Who Can Best Build Ohio’s Future?

Who is best prepared to attract the industries that will create jobs for the next generation of Ohioans?

Ohio is competing for semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, robotics, energy innovation, and data infrastructure. Success will depend on attracting investment, supporting entrepreneurs, building a skilled workforce, and creating an environment where businesses want to grow.

Viewed through that lens, Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy bring very different experiences.

Amy Acton: Public Health and Government Leadership

Dr. Amy Acton built her career in medicine, public health, academia, philanthropy, and community initiatives.

She served as Director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020, leading the agency during the opening phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. She later served as CEO of RAPID 5, a nonprofit organization focused on regional environmental and recreational development.

These roles gave Acton valuable experience in public administration, public health policy, and nonprofit leadership. Her background demonstrates a commitment to community service and government leadership.

However, her professional experience has been concentrated primarily in healthcare, public policy, and nonprofit organizations rather than in building private-sector companies, attracting investment capital, or leading technology-driven enterprises.

Vivek Ramaswamy: Entrepreneurship and Business Formation

Vivek Ramaswamy followed a very different path.

His career has centered on entrepreneurship, biotech innovation, investment, and company-building. After working in investment management, he founded Roivant Sciences in 2014 and served as CEO for nearly seven years.

Under his leadership, Roivant grew into a significant biotechnology enterprise with hundreds of employees and dozens of drug-development programs. The company attracted substantial private investment and completed major strategic transactions, including a multibillion-dollar partnership with Sumitomo Pharma.

Ramaswamy later co-founded Strive Asset Management, adding further experience in capital formation, business strategy, and investment markets.

Whether one agrees with his politics or not, his career has been built around attracting investors, building organizations, evaluating technology opportunities, and creating businesses in highly competitive markets.

Why This Matters

The governor cannot personally create jobs.

But governors influence the business climate that determines where companies invest and expand.

Technology firms, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs compare Ohio against states such as Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana. They evaluate tax policy, regulations, energy availability, workforce quality, infrastructure, housing, and the overall economic environment before deciding where to invest.

Understanding how those decisions are made is increasingly important.

Ramaswamy has spent much of his career on the side of the table making investment decisions and building companies. Acton’s experience has been more focused on administering public and nonprofit organizations.

Both experiences have value. They simply prepare candidates for different challenges.

My Assessment

Amy Acton brings expertise in public health, government administration, and community leadership.

Vivek Ramaswamy brings experience in entrepreneurship, biotechnology, investment, and company-building.

If the primary question is who is better prepared to improve Ohio’s ability to attract technology companies, investment capital, and high-growth industries, I believe the stronger case is Vivek Ramaswamy.

For me, this is ultimately about Ohio’s future.

I want our children and grandchildren to have opportunities here rather than feeling they must leave the state to build successful careers. I want Ohio to compete aggressively for the industries that will shape the next generation of economic growth.

That’s why executive experience matters. And that’s why, on this issue, I believe Vivek Ramaswamy’s background is better aligned with Ohio’s economic and technological future.