A new poll has entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as the GOP favorite in Ohio’s 2026 governor race.

The poll, conducted in February by the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Democracy and Public Policy Research Network and YouGov, shows Ramaswamy leading the pack of Republican candidates, with 61 percent support from prospective GOP Ohio voters.

Ohio’s Lt. Governor Jim Tressel sits in second at 14 percent, with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost at 13 percent and Heather Hill rounding out the GOP primary with nine percent. BGSU noted that this poll was conducted before Ramaswamy received the endorsement from President Donald Trump.

For the Democrats, former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown leads the pack with 59 percent. Brown has not entered the race, nor has he signaled his intent to. Former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton follows Brown with 17 percent. 4/30/2025