The race for Ohio governor race between Democrat Amy Acton Republican Vivek Ramaswamy remains tight, and a new AARP survey shows who’s holding a narrow edge.
The poll, conducted June 14–16 among 800 likely voters, reveals a highly competitive race shaped largely by older voters and undecided swing groups. Researchers used a random sample drawn from the state voter file and a mix of phone and text-to-web interviews. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Here’s a breakdown of the findings.
Acton narrowly leads Ramaswamy in Ohio governor race, per AARP poll
The governor’s race is within the margin of error, with Acton leading Ramaswamy 47% to 44%, according to AARP. An Emerson College poll from late 2025 also found the Ohio governor race to be tight at that time.
Acton leads with voters under 50 by 24 points, while Ramaswamy gains favor with voters 50 and older by 10 points. Acton is strongest among voters under 35, while Ramaswamy leads seniors by 19 points.
Acton holds a strong advantage among independents, with a roughly 2-to-1 lead among independent voters. AARP’s poll found Acton’s Democratic base is more unified, while Ramaswamy’s Republican base is less consolidated.
By race, Acton leads Black voters by 55 points, while Ramaswamy leads white voters by four points. There is only a modest gender gap, according to AARP. By education, Acton leads college graduates by 27 points, while Ramaswamy leads voters without a four-year degree by 13 points.
Voters 50 and older, especially swing voters and caregivers, lean slightly toward Ramaswamy.
Acton, Ramaswamy favorability rates in AARP poll
Acton’s favorability stands at 36% favorable and 33% unfavorable, for a net +3. She performs strongest with younger voters and independents but lags among seniors, according to AARP.
Meanwhile, Ramaswamy’s rating is 36% favorable and 40% unfavorable, for a net −4. He performs best with older voters but is viewed negatively by voters under 50, and independents are more than 2-to-1 unfavorable on the billionaire entrepreneur.
Older voters focused on costs, Social Security in Ohio governor race
Among voters 50 and older, affordability and the cost of living are the top issues heading into November. Social Security, Medicare and health care costs follow closely behind.
More than 80% of voters say candidates’ positions on Social Security and health care costs will influence their vote.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Acton narrowly leads Ramaswamy in new Ohio governor poll. See details
Reporting by Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
