WARREN, Ohio – The campaigns of both the Democrat and Republican expected to be their respective parties’ nominees for Ohio governor issued news releases announcing their running mates Wednesday.
Dr. Amy Acton, a Youngstown native who served as director of the Ohio Department of Health under Gov. Mike DeWine, named David Pepper as her candidate for lieutenant governor in a news release just before 7 a.m. About half an hour later, Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech billionaire and entrepreneur, issued a release naming Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate, following media reports Tuesday evening.
Earlier this week, Ramaswamy’s campaign announced it had raised $9.88 million during the second half of 2025, surpassing the $9.7 million raised during the first two quarters of the year.
Recent polling shows an increasingly competitive race for Ohio governor. An Emerson poll in early December showed Acton narrowly ahead of Ramaswamy, 46% to 45%. An October Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll had Ramaswamy leading Acton, 50% to 47%.
Ramaswamy said he selected McColley to be “a governing partner who can help advance our ambitious legislative agenda.” He further praised his running mate as “a proven conservative leader” who is committed to his vision “to make the American Dream a reality for every Ohioan.”
Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2014, McColley, a Napoleon resident, was elected to serve as Ohio Senate president in January 2025, according to the news release. The release also cites a record of reducing government red tape, “cutting taxes to spur economic growth and enacting legislation to prevent a repeat of the shutdowns Acton advocated for as ODH director as the Covid-19 pandemic hit Ohio.
“Ohio needs a businessman, not a bureaucrat; a creator, not a quitter; a visionary, not a victim,” McColley said in the news release. “That leader is Vivek Ramaswamy. He will be one of the boldest leaders in the history of our state, and I’m honored to help execute his vision.”
In her campaign’s news release, Acton praised her new running mate as “an innovative and pragmatic leader who has been laser focused on delivering for Ohioans for his entire career, from reducing the property tax rate for Cincinnatians to tackling foreclosures during the 2008 recession.”
Pepper said he was “honored and humbled” to join Acton’s ticket and partner with her to help working families.
“Amy is the only candidate in this race who will tackle our affordability crisis and work to lower costs, clean up the corruption, and invest to create world-class public schools, so we can finally put working families first, not billionaires or special interests,” he said. “While our opponent is flying around our state in his private jet and moving his business from Ohio to Texas, we’re working to tackle the affordability crisis and create an Ohio where we can all get ahead.”
Pepper, an attorney and fifth-generation Cincinnatian, also has served as a Cincinnati city councilman and Hamilton County commissioner.
“We both share a lifelong commitment to fighting for Ohio’s working families and making our state a more affordable place to live for all of us,” Acton said. “I am thrilled to have David by my side in the fight to lower costs, tackle corruption and special interests, and ensure that every Ohio family can thrive and enjoy the quality of life we all deserve.”
Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement Wednesday endorsing Ramaswamy and McColley.
“Ohio is winning new business projects from the coasts, and Vivek will keep the momentum going. Vivek Ramaswamy knows that Ohio is the best state to build a business, raise a family, and pursue your vision of the American dream,” the governor said.
McColley is “a great pick” for lieutenant governor, Dewine added. “Senate President McColley is a strong leader who is well respected by the members of the General Assembly. He knows Ohio and brings geographical balance to the ticket.”
Pictured at top: Rob McColley, left, and David Pepper.