Ohio governor's race in full swing with more than a year before election
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — There is still a year to go until the gubernatorial primary in Ohio and a year and a half before the 2026 general election, but even with all that time, the race for Ohio governor is well underway.
Here's a quick rundown of everything that has happened so far:
On the Republican side, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is the frontrunner.
Ramaswamy is endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Ohio GOP.
Small business owner Heather Hill is also vying for the Republican nomination.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague both were part of the Republican primary but ultimately dropped out at varying points.
Former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is the only Democrat in the race right now.
With so many twists and turns in the race already, we are still waiting to see, on both sides, who else will jump in and all eyes are on Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel.
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'I've never run anything, other than run for my life as a coach, maybe,' Tressel said.
Tressel was asked by reporters on Wednesday, in every way possible, whether he will run for governor in 2026. Tressel did not give a clear answer, but instead reflected on his past jobs. He said he was an assistant football coach for more than a decade before thinking, 'Hey, maybe I could be a head coach.'
So, by that logic, is his run unlikely?
'I don't know if I would say that,' Tressel said. 'If you would've asked, 'Is it likely?' I probably wouldn't say that, either. I just think we're studying.'
Tressel said he is in the 'fact-finding, learning mode' to understand what goes into being Ohio's governor. Tressel said his conversations with Gov. Mike DeWine on the topic have been limited so far.
'The governor's busy,' Tressel said. 'He has always said all along 'There will be a day where we sit down and talk about these kinds of things, but until then, let's get to work.''
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DeWine said Tressel is 'very independent' and will make his own decision.
'He's a true leader and he is someone who ultimately makes his own decisions,' DeWine said. 'He has a real, real great focus on the things that are really most important to the state of Ohio.'
Tressel, though, said he does not have any clear platform right now. He said he would want to emulate the governor's priorities of safety and ensuring all Ohioans live up to their God-given potential.
'To me, those sound like nonnegotiable; you better do darn well at those,' Tressel said. 'Beyond that, I couldn't tell you any particular things. I am kind of an education buff, so I think that's pretty darn important.'
Ramaswamy already has the endorsement of the Ohio Republican Party.
'I don't think an endorsement would impact, at least in my opinion, whether I would be interested in getting in the race or not,' Tressel said.
'It is my opinion that this is much too early to have an endorsement,' DeWine said. 'It's a year out from the primary and this was really an unprecedented time to do that.'
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But Republican Central Committee members, who voted to endorse Ramaswamy, like Shannon Burns, said unity among the Republican party is essential. He called the committee's decision to back Ramaswamy 'decisive' and said it is 'disappointing to see our sitting lieutenant governor ignore that unified front.'
'Jim Tressel is a respected Ohio figure with a winning football record, but this race isn't about nostalgia—it's about the future of our movement,' Burns wrote. 'In today's political reality, name recognition means nothing without alignment to principle. President Trump and the Ohio Republican Party have all united behind the Vivek Ramaswamy's grassroots movement. That unity leaves no serious path—financial or political—for any campaign opposing it.'
DeWine said endorsements are fine, but they do not decide elections.
'In our system, it's the people who show up to the polls,' DeWine said. 'It's the people who vote. Ultimately, this is going to come down to Republicans who vote in the Republican primary.'
On Monday, when DeWine was asked whether he thinks Ramaswamy will make a good governor, he avoided the question.
'I'm not going to go any further in regard to the discussion today,' DeWine said. 'I think I've said what I want to say, and that is that Jim Tressel will make his decision. We have a long way to go, so, it's going to be a long year and a year is an eternity in politics.'
On the Democratic side, Acton is the only candidate in the race right now, but others are being floated as candidates.
Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is looking at a possible candidacy, and some say former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is another contender.
Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said she is focused on leading her caucus right now, and getting through the budget, which must pass by July 1. But she did not shut down a possible governor or lieutenant governor candidacy.
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'I do not think my time in public service is done,' Russo said. 'But I have not made a decision about what it means for 2026. I promise you all will be the first to know if we do.'
And as for all that is going on between Republicans right now, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party Katie Seewer said it does not matter who the Republicans nominate.
'Regardless of who Republicans nominate, they can't escape from the fact that their handing over total control of Ohio's government to wealthy special interests has sent us on the wrong path for decades,' Seewer wrote. 'And that's why Democrats will win here in November.'
The primary election is in May 2026 and the general election the following November. The new governor will begin their term in January 2027. None of the candidates have named a lieutenant governor yet.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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