It looks like Vivek Ramaswamy has taken over the Ohio GOP in his run for Governor.
NOTE: at 11:30 a.m. today, I will do a Substack LIVE interviewing a historian (Professor Greg Downs) on voter registration manipulation, the disturbing topic I wrote about Monday. Keep an eye out on the notification and tune in.
On the one hand, his candidacy presents a dire risk to Ohio’s future, as he makes one reckless proposal after the next—doubling down on policies already sending our state in the wrong direction.
On the other hand, his far-right and billionare-branded candidacy (at this time in particular) presents Ohio with a huge opportunity…to toss off that failed direction and finally start lifting Ohio and its citizens again. And yes, if Ohio turns blue, that has enormous national consequences.
To seize this opportunity, Ohio Dems will have to get it just right.
And this starts with listening to Ohio voters.
And what are these voters telling us?
That they want something new. Something different.
And how are they telling us that?
In just about every way!
Let me explain.
A group called 314 Action actually did a poll asking Ohioans who they most trust to relate to everyday Ohioans: a medical doctor, a billionaire, or a politician.
The results?
40% chose the medical doctor;
26% said the billionaire;
and just 6% chose the politician.
In the same poll, by a 60% to 21% margin, voters say they trust a medical doctor when it comes to their healthcare over a billionaire biotech executive.
(See all the results HERE).
Those are pretty clear results.
And they explain why—even though she’s never run for office and hasn’t been in the spotlight for a number of years—the medical doctor running for Governor, former health director Dr. Amy Acton:
leads Ramaswamy in that same poll
is the only Democrat who’s ever led Vivek in any poll
is in a statistical dead heat with former OSU coach and now Lt. Governor Jim Tressel in a separate poll
and has the best net favorability of any Democrat tested in Ohio
And in case you doubt polls, Dr. Acton is seeing the same response in person.
In every part of Ohio, folks way beyond the usual are showing up to her events. These are crowds that usually turn up late in campaigns, and they are showing up like this at the beginning!
In red, blue and purple counties.
This is NOT normal.
And then there’s the response she’s getting from volunteers and on-line.
Again, having never run for any office before, her first quarter of fundraising set a record of Dem candidates running for gov in Ohio.
Almost entirely from small dollar givers.
From all 88 counties.
But….But…COVID!
Now, I know what some say. I hear it.
She was the health director during COVID! “That will be hard to overcome.” :(
Really?
Did I mention she was the Democrat with the highest net approval?
Well, that’s because her negatives from these polls are very low.
And that’s because while there’s a small group of anti-vaxers who hated any responsible response to COVID, most people (and the broad middle of the Ohio electorate) admired her leadership.
Think about it.
Why do we think DeWine cruised to a 26-point reelection in a year that Republicans in other states struggled?
Do you think it was because of his stance against abortion? Or his economic development prowess? Or that he supported illegal gerrymandering? Or his charisma?
Try again. It was despite those things.
It’s because Ohioans respected the state’s responsible response, leadership and communication during the pandemic—doing their best in a chaotic time to give families the information and tools to stay safe.
That’s why he did so well with the middle, which is how you win Ohio.
So…some believe that the same leadership moment that propelled DeWine to such an overwhelming reelection, will have the exact opposite effect on Dr. Acton—when not a single poll since 2020 has shown that to be happening, and crowds are flocking her events?
Odd.🤔
Want more?
Look South.
Gov. Beshear was reelected in Kentucky by more than he won the first time, even though his opponent’s entire campaign was a desperate attempt to attack his similarly responsible stance on keeping people safe amid a pandemic.
Voters didn’t buy it. In Kentucky! In fact, putting public safety over politics was one of the things that solidified Beshear as an honest and authentic leader. He seems to be doing quite well nationally ever since.
Same outcome, by the way, for all the Governors who were equally responsible amid the pandemic. They too won by more!
No reason to think it would be different here.
Come to think of it, the only politician I can think of who LOST an election largely due to COVID and his (inept) response was….Donald Trump.
So don’t fall for the easy doom and gloom that COVID is a problem six years later—especially at a time when nuts like RFK are making us all feel unsafe yet again, and we’ll want responsible leaders in charge at the state level more than ever, especially if/when new health worries emerge.
The candidacy of a doctor has never been BETTER!
Governing Experience
One other thing about Dr. Acton’s candidacy.
Because of her years as the state’s health director, she actually is the only current Democrat with any experience at the highest levels of an enormous and complex state government.
That might come in handy, don’t you think?
Let’s GO
So, Ohio.
You have a respected non-politician candidate for Governor—exactly what Ohio voters say they are looking for.
She provides the perfect contrast to Ramaswamy and what he is offering.
She’s viable against every GOP name in the field, is the only one who’s led Ramaswamy in a poll, has the highest net favorability, low negatives, and is seeing packed rooms all over the state.
Sounds to me like an opportunity to seize.
Especially when we can NOT allow Vivek to take the reins of this state.
When we can not afford one more term of the failed direction of this state, let alone a doubling down on all the extremism and DOGE damage.
I believe this will ultimately emerge as the most important election in Ohio for the rest of our lifetimes.
The chance to build a broad coalition and strong top-to-bottom ticket to reject billionaire rule and turn the state around—the first step in the multi-year process of ending gerrymandering, corruption, extremism and failing outcomes that are so ailing us.
Let’s get this right, folks.
You can learn more about this rare opportunity, and sign up to join the movement, HERE.
And if you want to help build her campaign, please do so by giving HERE.
HUDDLE Tonight: the Acton campaign will be holding its first HUDDLE tonight (7 p.m.) with Dr. Acton, and you’re invited to join it. Please REGISTER HERE.
Day 166 — May 6, 2025
For about the past week, Trump officials have—every day—discussed how American girls should be told they need to get along with fewer dolls.
Here’s the Secretary of the Treasury mansplaining this yet again:
On brand, of course…it’s a bunch of men talking down to girls’ needs, and not boys. Trying their best to trivialize the entire problem of…empty shelves, higher prices, and rationing.
Still, asDan Pfeiffer said, this “might be the worst, dumbest, most politically damaging messaging I’ve ever heard.” :)
And one of the dumbest aspects of the Trump administration is that once he says something this idiotic, none of them will walk it back. So after he makes one of his inane comments, they…
…spend days telling girls why they can’t have dolls.
….talking up Alcatraz as a great prison.
….attacking Canada.
And the like.
It’s all so damn stupid. And if it doesn’t motivate us to run everywhere, I don’t know what will.
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