Ohio's front-runners for governor are officially locking in their tickets. 

Vivek Ramaswamy announced he's picked Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate in the 2026 race and Amy Acton chose former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper. 

YSU Political Scientist Dr. Adam Fuller said David Pepper is seen as a steady pick in politics -and a name without baggage and Vivek Ramaswamy is betting experience matters by choosing McColley. 

The Republican gubernatorial front-runner announced Ohio Senate President Republican Rob McColley as his pick, pairing an outsider candidate with one of the most powerful lawmakers in the Statehouse. 

Fuller said that while running mates don't usually decide elections, McColley brings something Ramaswamy lacks.

"That is really Ramaswamy's one thing that he doesn't have. He's never been in politics before; he comes from the business world," Fuller said, "In this case, it will help him to have somebody in the lieutenant governor's seat near him who could help guide and navigate him through the field of legislative politics in Columbus."

On the Democratic ticket, Pepper brings a similar level of experience to political novice Acton's campaign. 

Having served as chair of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015 to 2021, Pepper has seen Ohio's shift from a purple state to a red one in the Trump era. 

In that time, he's written books about the ways state legislatures serve as ground zero for national policy, as well as a series of social media videos where he uses a whiteboard to break down complex issues. 

Fuller expects the GOP ticket to make economics its focus, while redistricting may be a big theme for Acton. 

After Ramaswamy's announcement, Governor Mike DeWine formally endorsed him, ending months of delay.