Ohio Gubernatorial and Senate Races Remain Dead-Heat as New BGSU Poll Shows Tight Margins
A recent Bowling Green State University poll finds Ohio’s governor and Senate contests virtually tied, with Democrats edging in personal preference but Republicans favored to win overall.
A Bowling Green State University poll conducted from September 1-10 surveyed 1,000 likely Ohio voters about the upcoming 2026 elections. Respondents showed a narrow personal preference for Democrat Amy Acton, former Ohio health director, at 48% against Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy’s 45% in the governor’s race, yet 62% anticipate Ramaswamy will win. The Senate contest is similarly close, with Republican Sen. Jon Husted holding 48% support versus former Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown’s 45%, and 53% forecasting a Husted victory.
Economic issues, especially inflation, rank highest among voter priorities, followed by government corruption and health care. More than half of those surveyed think the country (61%) and Ohio (52%) are heading in the wrong direction, and 44% say their personal economic situation has worsened. The poll’s margin of error of plus or minus four points means both races remain within statistical uncertainty, and the Cook Political Report still labels the Senate race a toss-up.
Why it matters
The tight margins indicate Ohio’s key races could swing national power balances in 2026.
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