In a new Emerson College Polling survey, Democrat Amy Acton has made gains against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio gubernatorial election. Acton, a former Ohio Department of Health director, is polling neck and neck with the former presidential candidate. Ramaswamy, the former CEO of a biotech pharma company, led Acton by 10 points in August 2025. The December survey has Acton leading Ramaswamy 46 percent to 45 percent, with nine percent of voters undecided. “In comparison to the August 2025 Emerson College poll of Ohio, Ramaswamy’s support decreased four percentage points, from 49% to 45%, while Acton’s support increased seven points, from 39% to 46%,” Emerson College Polling wrote. NEW: OHIO POLL Governor Election Amy Acton (D) 46% (+7)Vivek Ramaswamy (R) 45% (-4)9% undecided US Senate Election Jon Husted (R) 49% (-1)Sherrod Brown (D) 44% (+2)5% undecided (+/- Movement since 8/22 poll) More: https://t.co/Kc0WI57rIo Full results:… — Emerson College Polling (@EmersonPolling) December 11, 2025 The Hill has more: The polling also found Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) neck and neck in the Senate race: Husted received 49 percent, and Brown received 46 percent. A separate 5 percent said they were undecided. The December poll shows Brown has seen his numbers moderately tick up since a similar poll was conducted in August; Brown gained 2 points since August, while Husted only lost 1 point. The poll found that the economy ranked as the most important issue among voters — 44 percent — followed next by threats to democracy at 13 percent, health care at 11 percent, housing affordability at 9 percent and immigration at 8 percent, among other issues. “Ohio voters who did not participate in the 2024 election, most of whom are under 30, are more likely to identify as Republicans rather than Democrats,” Kimball said in the press release. “The August Emerson College poll found women voters split between Ramaswamy and Acton, 44% to 42%, and men breaking for Ramaswamy 54% to 36%,” added Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Four months later, men still support Ramaswamy by about 20 points, 55% to 35%, but women have shifted toward Acton, breaking for her 56% to 37%,” Kimball continued. Democrat gains in race against Ramaswamy for Ohio governor: Poll https://t.co/TcziBw8MEp — The Hill (@thehill) December 11, 2025 Newsweek shared: Republicans currently hold the governorship and both U.S. Senate seats, one of which was held by Vice President JD Vance before he stepped down to enter the White House with the second Trump administration. But according to new polling, Democrats are hot on their heels in the upcoming elections. Jai Chabria, chief strategist for the Vivek for Ohio campaign, told Newsweek: “Vivek will have raised more than $20 million by December 31. He has a statewide grassroots infrastructure and has visited all 88 counties. He sells out every venue he goes to. You should ask Governor Richard Cordray and Senator Tim Ryan about how public polls helped them win.”