Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy talks into his phone after fining out his ballot at his polling place in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, during the primary election. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Billionaire biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy clinched the Republican nomination for Ohio governor on Tuesday and will face off this fall against the state’s COVID-era health director, Democrat Amy Acton.

A newcomer to state politics, Ramaswamy aggressively positioned himself for the job early with the help of endorsements from President Donald Trump and the state Republican Party.

Trump’s endorsement continues to carry weight in Ohio, which favored him three times for president, but Ramaswamy could face headwinds amid the president’s lagging popularity over the war in Iran and the rising cost of living.

Acton, a physician who was unopposed in her primary, has a well-known public profile and robust fundraising. That has Democrats hopeful she can get the party back in the governor’s office for the first time in 20 years.

The state’s other marquee matchup for November also was set Tuesday, as former Sen. Sherrod Brown easily defeated a challenger in the Democratic primary and will try to unseat Sen. Jon Husted.

Democrats are counting on Brown’s previous popularity with voters to flip the seat. The Senate Leadership Fund, a top GOP super PAC, has pledged $79 million to defend Husted, who was unopposed in his primary.