Meet the lesser-known candidates for Ohio governor

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Although Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton dominate discussions of the 2026 governor's race, there are at least six candidates vying for Ohio's highest office.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited, so Ohio will elect a new governor next year. Ramaswamy, a Republican billionaire with a residence in Upper Arlington, is endorsed by President Donald Trump and heading a campaign that broke fundraising records, leading his competition by $8 million in funding. Acton, who led Ohio's charge against COVID-19 as state health director, has collected more individual donations than any previous Democratic candidate for governor. DeWine has not endorsed any candidates.

Although Ramaswamy and Acton are the front-runners, there are other candidates hoping to secure the governor's seat. See previous coverage of the race in the video player above.

Heather Hill (Former Republican, unannounced)

Hill was the first to enter the race for governor and initially ran as a Republican. In August, she decided to leave the party, saying "there is no room in their party" for a candidate like her. She is considering running as an independent, Libertarian or America Party candidate but has not made a formal announcement. She describes herself as a conservative outsider who wants to protect the Second Amendment and solve the housing crisis.

Hill is a Morgan County school board president, business owner and mother. Two of her foster children, Ta'Kiya Young and Donovan Lewis, were shot and killed by law enforcement, and she said she hopes to bridge the gap between law enforcement and Ohioans if elected.

Timothy Grady (independent)

Grady said he is a reformer, hoping to build a strong economy and honest government. He said he is a lifelong independent and describes himself as politically centrist. He was the 2018 Libertarian nominee for Richland County's state representative seat and ran a satirical gubernatorial campaign in 2022 as a fake supervillain named Dark Horse.

Grady said this time, he's running genuinely and hopes to bring his former experience as chairs of the United Ohio Party and Ohio Forward Party to the role of Governor. He is the only candidate to declare a lieutenant governor, selecting District Senior Vice Commander and substitute teacher Andrea Neutzling.

Jacob Chiara (Democrat)

Chiara said he is not a career politician and is running to fix healthcare, fund schools, create well-paying jobs and improve transparency. He said he was formerly a registered Republican but is now running as a Democrat because the Republican Party he "once believed in no longer exists," claiming it is now characterized by blind loyalty and extremism.

Chiara's social media criticizes both Ramaswamy and Acton. He offers minimal personal information but says his platform is for those who are "tired of politics as usual."

Philip Funderburg (Republican)

Funderburg is a 10th-generation Ohioan running on a platform of deportations. In his social media bio, he promises to "deport all Anchor Babies (Vivek Ramaswamy), Haitians and any other illegals in Ohio." Funderburg frequently posts about Ramaswamy.

Funderburg appears to strongly support much of Trump's agenda, although he wants to release the Epstein files. Funderburg is an insurance agent and father from Englewood.

Unofficial candidates linked to the race

According to the Secretary of State's official candidacy list, there are six others who have declared candidacy, but the list includes candidates who have suspended their races or do not have other records of their candidacy. Attorney General Dave Yost and Treasurer Robert Sprague both rescinded their bids after Ohio Republicans awarded Ramaswamy their endorsement in May.

Republicans Jeremiah Workman, James Renacci and Mary Taylor are all listed as candidates but do not appear to have active campaigns. Sen. Jon Husted, the former lieutenant governor under DeWine, also has an active candidacy listed, although that appears to be before his Senate appointment. Husted is now running for his current Senate seat in 2026.

Former Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat, and current Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a Republican, were both named as possible candidates, but Tressel announced on Friday that he will not launch a campaign. Ryan said he will decide by the end of this month if he will run, although some strategists feel it is too late for any other candidates to enter.