Thursday, November 5th, 2026

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On this day in 1974, Ella Grasso won Connecticut's gubernatorial race, becoming the first woman elected governor without succeeding her husband.

Top of the Fold: Ohio resets after a major political shake-up, and even tax-friendly communities are putting the brakes on school spending.

And Ohio's data center boom hits a speed bump as voters demand more control, while The Pennant's editorial asks what Tuesday's political shake-up really means for both parties.

Ohio voters elected Democrat Amy Acton governor Tuesday, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and ending two decades of Republican control of the governor's office. 

Acton, Ohio's former health director, also becomes the first woman elected governor in state history. 

Acton now faces a major challenge: working with a state legislature that Republicans have controlled for years. 

Her election could shift debates over taxes, education, health care, and economic development, although lawmakers will continue to play a major role in shaping state policy. Read more from The Associated Press.

Ohio's booming data center industry hit a roadblock Tuesday as voters in several communities approved restrictions on large-scale facilities. 

Residents in Granville, Sunbury and Pataskala backed measures limiting new data center development, despite opposition from developers and business groups.

Data centers have brought billions in investment and construction jobs to Ohio, but Tuesday's votes suggest residents want more control over where they're built. Read more.

Ohio voters sent a warning to school districts Tuesday as communities wrestled with rising property taxes and requests for more education funding.

In Upper Arlington, a community with a long history of approving school levies, voters rejected a combined operating levy and bond issue. The defeat stood out in a district where voters have traditionally supported school spending.

The results raise a larger question across Ohio: Are taxpayers reaching their limit, even in communities that have consistently supported their public schools? Ohio school levy election results.

GROVE CITY — Voters across Ohio pushed back against large data center developments Tuesday, approving restrictions in communities from central Ohio to the state's western and northern regions.

In Grove City, voters approved Issue 28 with 54.6% of the vote, according to unofficial results. The measure received 11,317 yes votes and 9,411 no votes, with all 30 precincts reporting.

The charter amendment requires voter approval for major developments involving at least 50 acres, more than 20 megawatts of electricity, or more than 500,000 gallons of water per day. It does not ban data centers outright but gives residents a direct say in large projects.

The results were even more decisive elsewhere. Trenton voters approved a data center ban with nearly 80% support. Granville's restrictions passed with more than 82%, while Sunbury voters backed a similar measure with nearly 79%.

Supporters say the measures protect communities from large projects that could strain electricity and water supplies. Opponents warn the restrictions could discourage investment, construction jobs and economic growth. For more, see: Ohio data center ballot results · Statewide election coverage.

Ohioans didn't go to bed Tuesday night in a red state and wake up Wednesday in a blue one. Anyone who thinks so is politically delusional.

What we woke up to was Ohio acting like the adults in the room.

And one has to wonder: How many Ohioans voted for the people and policies they wanted, how many voted against the personalities and political overreach they'd had enough of, and how many simply sat this one out?

Let's look at the box score.

On Tuesday, Ohio voters elected Amy Acton governor and sent Sherrod Brown back to the U.S. Senate. As of late Wednesday morning, Acton had 52.3% of the vote to Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's 44.4%. Brown had 50% to Republican Jon Husted's 45.2%. Yet on the same ballot, 65.3% of Ohioans voted to put photo ID requirements into the state Constitution. Two years ago, President Trump carried Ohio by 11 points.

There's a message in those results, and neither party nor their consultants should miss it.

Acton talked about household costs, schools and health care. Brown focused on electric bills and data centers. Best we can tell, this wasn't a national ideological brawl. They talked about things people actually worry about long after the campaign signs land in the recycling bin.

Republicans might want to study the game film before installing a new offense. Issue 3 passed easily, so voters clearly weren't rejecting everything Republicans supported. Acton supported it, too. But voters chose her over Ramaswamy. Republicans really need to examine the "why" before deciding the "what" comes next.

As for the other side, Tuesday's results weren't a box of blank checks for Democrats, either.

Acton won the governor's race. That doesn't mean Ohioans signed up for everything on the Democratic wish list. The same voters who elected her also backed Issue 3 by a wide margin. 

The Dems would be wise to remember that before mistaking Tuesday's results for a political conversion.

On election night, Acton promised to be "a governor for all Ohioans."

It's only Thursday, two days after the election. For now, we'll take her at her word. But after a year of focus group-endorsed campaign ads, we know the difference between clever soundbites and sound policy.

We swear we'll be watching, even though most of us need a break.

Winning an election tells you who got the votes. It doesn't necessarily tell you why.

Ohio has not changed teams. It has reminded both teams who they work for. And it's not a political party.

This editorial reflects the views of The Pennant Editorial Board. Questions or comments are welcome at [email protected].

The Pennant welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns from readers. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity, and AP style. The Pennant reserves the right to verify all information contained in submissions before publication.

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