Ohio's largest physician-led organization has thrown its political weight behind Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for governor, snubbing Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton — and hundreds of the group's own members are furious about it. The Ohio State Medical Association Political Action Committee announced its endorsement of Ramaswamy after holding a conversation with the candidate and his wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a physician and assistant professor at Ohio State University.
The endorsement, first detailed by The Columbus Dispatch, drew immediate backlash from within the medical community. Hundreds of Ohio doctors signed an open letter opposing the OSMA PAC's decision, according to a Facebook post circulating among physicians. The letter argued that endorsing a candidate who threatens the foundation of patient care betrays the profession's core duty, according to the Dispatch.
Why OSMA Leadership Sided With Ramaswamy
OSMA describes itself as the leading voice for physicians, residents and medical students in Ohio, and it represents thousands of practicing physicians across all specialties and practice settings, per the Dispatch's reporting. OSMA President Dr. Gary Katz and PAC Chair Dr. Anne Taylor cited Ramaswamy's commitment to reducing administrative burdens and insurance barriers on doctors as reasons for the endorsement, the newspaper reported. Ramaswamy said Ohio's doctors need a governor who listens to them, reduces unnecessary bureaucracy, and provides tools for patient care, the Dispatch noted.
That framing tracks with OSMA's advocacy on prior authorization. The organization has supported prior-authorization legislation, including House Bill 220 to ban retroactive claim denials, according to the Ohio State Medical Association. Prior authorization can create administrative burdens for physicians.
Doctors Say the Pick Betrays a Colleague
The backlash is notable in part because Acton once led Ohio's health department. Katz wrote that OSMA may differ in opinions about the roles of government, markets, insurers, employers and healthcare institutions, the Dispatch reported, an apparent acknowledgment of the internal divide. Dissenting physicians have argued that passing over Acton, a former state health director, in favor of a non-physician candidate conflicts with public health principles and clinical leadership, according to a separate Facebook post capturing the dispute.
OSMA's PAC has a mixed partisan history. It backed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in both 2018 and 2022, along with all Republicans running for the Ohio Supreme Court that year, per the Dispatch's account. But the PAC has also endorsed several Democrats for congressional and state legislative seats over the years, including Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan in 2022 — a track record OSMA leaders have pointed to as evidence the group is not reflexively partisan.
A Campaign Already Defined by Tight Margins
The OSMA fight lands in a governor's race that RealClearPolling has classified as a toss-up. Organizational endorsements like OSMA's carry strategic value for both campaigns.
Money has also shaped the contest. Ramaswamy issued a $25 million personal loan to his own campaign in April, giving him a significant financial edge, according to News From The States. Ramaswamy has pledged to spend at least $30 million of his personal wealth on the race.
Business groups have largely lined up behind Ramaswamy elsewhere on the ballot, too. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce PAC endorsed him in July and the National Federation of Independent Business Ohio PAC followed in August, according to New India Abroad, with both groups citing his proposals on tax reductions and deregulation. Public safety unions, by contrast, split their support, with the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio backing Ramaswamy while the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association sided with Acton, as Hoodline previously reported. The Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters also endorsed Acton in August during a campaign event in Cincinnati.
Acton's Own History With Ohio Health Policy
Acton, the Democratic candidate, has a history tied to Ohio health policy. She previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Health.
Both campaigns have shaped their tickets around experience beyond the top line. Ramaswamy selected Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate in January, while Acton chose former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper, according to the Associated Press. The election also carries stakes regardless of outcome.
