COLUMBUS, Ohio —

Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan announced he will not be running for Ohio governor in 2026, clearing a path for Amy Acton to be the leading Democratic candidate.

“After careful consideration, much prayer and reflection, after long conversations with my family, my closest friends and advisors, I’ve made the decision not to run for governor in 2026,” Ryan said in a statement obtained by NBC affiliate WCMH. Advertisement

Ryan served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2023.

He ran for Ohio U.S. Senate, ultimately losing to now-Vice President JD Vance.

Amy Acton remains the leading Democratic candidate. The former Ohio Health Director became a household name in the state in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the Republican side is Cincinnati-native Vive

See Full Page