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Acton Refuses to Engage with Ramaswamy as Ohio Debates Decline
Ramaswamy says Ohio voters deserve a substantive debate as Acton’s campaign rejects the invite and no date has been set.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy accepted debate invitations from WLWT and CNN, though Democrat Amy Acton's campaign rejected the proposals hours later.
The 2026 race features intense personal attacks, with campaign manager Phil Stein calling Ramaswamy a "scam artist" over more than $50 million in ads he described as "most vile and repulsive lies."
Republican groups have countered by accusing Acton of being "unstable" and abusing prescription medication, while Democrats argue these claims stem from a 2019 private verbal disagreement between Acton and her husband.
Reflecting their distinct political backgrounds, Ramaswamy is a Trump-aligned businessman while Acton rose to prominence alongside Governor Mike DeWine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the historical norm of at least one debate for open-seat races, recent campaigns have preferred avoiding direct confrontations, making it unlikely Ohio voters will see the two candidates face off.