Washington: Indian-American billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, backed by US President Donald Trump, lost Ohio's gubernatorial race to Democrat Amy Acton in a major setback for Republicans as Democrats made significant gains across the United States in the 2026 midterm elections.
Acton, 60, secured more than 51 per cent of the votes against Ramaswamy's 45 per cent, becoming the first woman to be elected governor of Ohio.
"It was a tough race. It was bitter at times in both directions... All of us in this room should be rooting for the success of her administration," Ramaswamy said in his concession remarks, C-SPAN reported.
The 41-year-old thanked his parents, wife and her parents for their support. His defeat came despite backing from Trump and the involvement of top strategists from his own political team and that of Vice President JD Vance, NBC News reported.
Ramaswamy, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination against Trump in 2024, invested more than $36 million in personal loans into his gubernatorial campaign. He also received millions of dollars in donations from fellow billionaires Elon Musk and Jeffrey Yass, according to The Washington Post and NBC News.
His campaign also faced criticism over an advertisement featuring Amy Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a liar and urging voters not to support her. Acton said she had not seen or spoken to her mother in nearly 50 years and accused her mother's then-husband of sexually abusing her during childhood.
Ramaswamy had earlier helped Musk plan Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative before leaving the role. Trump subsequently endorsed him and travelled to Ohio to campaign in his support.
Democrats Make Gains Across States
Ramaswamy's defeat was part of a broader Democratic surge in the 2026 midterm elections, with the party making significant gains in traditionally Republican strongholds and moving closer to reclaiming control of Congress.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico was projected to defeat Republican Ken Paxton in the closely watched Senate race, potentially ending more than three decades of Republican dominance in statewide contests.
According to CBS News, Talarico held 58.1 per cent of the vote, with 3,505,204 ballots, against Paxton's 40.4 per cent, or 2,435,403 votes, with 58 per cent of ballots counted.
The Texas contest attracted national attention because of its potential implications for control of the US Senate and the broader political balance in Washington.
Meanwhile, Democrats were projected to reclaim control of the US House of Representatives, according to the CNN Decision Desk. An NBC News forecast estimated that the party would secure at least 244 seats.
The projected victory could put House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on course to become the first African American Speaker of the House when the new Congress convenes on January 3.
A Democratic-controlled House would give the party greater powers to scrutinise the Trump administration, launch congressional investigations and challenge the president's legislative agenda during the final two years of his term.
In Kansas, the Senate race was also leaning towards Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton, adding to signs of a shifting political landscape.
The results represent a significant challenge to Trump's Republican Party, with Democratic victories in key races potentially reshaping the balance of power in Washington and setting the stage for a contentious final two years of the president's term.
(With agency inputs from ANI and AP via PTI)
