Ohio Governor 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Amy Acton (Democrat), Vivek Ramaswamy (Republican) and Don Kissick (Libertarian) are the candidates for governor of Ohio in the November 3, 2026 general election. Semblen has analyzed 60 ads in this race; 42 used at least one manipulation technique, most often loaded language and appeal to prejudice. Next date for voters: Last day to request a mail ballot: Tue, Oct 27.
Amy Acton (DEM), Vivek Ramaswamy (REP), Don Kissick (LIB).
On the ballot as listed by Ballotpedia. 60 ads analyzed, 42 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-08. 1 ad from other advertisers shown separately below.
From Ohio's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.
Next: Last day to request a mail ballot: Tue, Oct 27 (in 19 days)
Registration
Register by Mon, Oct 5 (30th day before is Sun Oct 4; SOS says the deadline is Oct 5. Mail applications must be postmarked by the 30th day before) (passed)Source: codes.ohio.gov ↗Source: ohiosos.gov ↗
Anyone can vote by mail; request a ballot by Tue, Oct 27 (received by county board by close of business, 7th day before the election); return it by Tue, Nov 3 (received by county board by close of polls (7:30 p.m.); postmark grace period repealed by SB 293; UOCAVA exception)Source: codes.ohio.gov ↗Source: codes.ohio.gov ↗
41 of 59 (69%) flagged · Loaded Language (32), Appeal to Prejudice (22), Appeal to Fear (20)
YouTube
1 of 1 flagged · Appeal to Fear (1), Appeal to Prejudice (1), Black-and-White Fallacy (1)
Reported Meta spend
$190,800–261,387 on all ads, $147,200–202,542 on flagged ads · Meta reports ranges; these are the sums of their ends
Example
“selling false hope to Alzheimer's patients” — Loaded Language, paid for by OHIOANS FOR AMY ACTON
· the flagged ad with the highest reported spend that shows the most common technique
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A small box with these findings and the newest ads, updated as new ads are analyzed. Free for newsrooms, blogs and campaigns alike; it links back here.
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Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 55% of ads.
The words doing the work
The words that show up most in phrases our model flagged as loaded language or name calling in this race's ads, by number of ads.
buyin 16 ads· e.g. “buy Ohio”, “buy this election”
billionairein 12 ads· e.g. “billionaire war chest”, “billionaire opponent”
war chestin 12 ads· e.g. “billionaire war chest”, “war chest”
billionaire warin 8 ads· e.g. “billionaire war chest”, “Vivek's billionaire war chest”
liberalin 7 ads· e.g. “Liberal Amy Acton”, “liberal agenda”
electionin 4 ads· e.g. “buy this election”
statein 4 ads· e.g. “attempts to buy this state”, “buy this state”
super wealthyin 4 ads· e.g. “super wealthy allies”
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Money in this race
Candidates for governor report their fundraising to Ohio's state campaign-finance office, not the FEC. This page doesn't cover those reports yet, so it shows no money figures.
The ads
60 ads, newest first. Video transcripts are shown as the model read them, without caption cues like [music].
Paid for by INTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMfrom 2026-10-08spend $0–991,000–1,999 impressions
UAW members, like you, screen candidates for the 2026 election so you can make an informed decision on or before November 3rd.
Amy Acton got the UAW stamp of approval for Ohio Governor because they will fight for higher wages, affordable healthcare, job security, and a dignified retirement.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence lists vague, emotionally positive goals without specific policy details, functioning as rhetorical flourish — for example: 'higher wages, affordable healthcare, job security, and a dignified retirement'
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-07spend $500–59970,000–79,999 impressions
Vivek Ramaswamy's first tax cut is on money made off stock. Not on overtime.
Only 15,000 of the wealthiest Ohioans would benefit. The rest of us cover what it takes out of roads, schools, and safety.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-07spend $400–49940,000–44,999 impressions
Groceries. Healthcare. Housing. Energy. Everything costs more.
Ohio families need a governor focused on lowering costs, not adding more uncertainty.
Amy Acton has spent her career helping Ohio families, and she'll put working people first.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence uses vague, emotionally positive phrases like 'helping Ohio families' and 'working people first' that sound noble but carry no specific policy substance — for example: 'put working people first'
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
An email when new ads come in from either side or the outside groups: the techniques, the words doing the work, and who paid. And each debate's analysis the morning after. One-click unsubscribe.
Loaded Language: The word 'shamelessly' and the phrase 'struggling patients and families' are emotionally charged to trigger moral outrage rather than convey neutral facts — for example: 'shamelessly profited off struggling patients'
Name Calling: The framing implies Ramaswamy is a predatory fraudster through the 'pump and dump' label, used to discredit him rather than present a balanced account — for example: "alleged "pump and dump" scheme".
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'not Ohio' invokes in-group identity to imply Ramaswamy is an outsider who does not represent or care about the local community — for example: 'He's out for himself, not Ohio'
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two options — either serving oneself or serving Ohio — with no middle ground or nuance — for example: 'out for himself, not Ohio'
Loaded Language
Name Calling
Appeal to Prejudice
Black-and-White Fallacy
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-07spend $500–59970,000–79,999 impressions
Working families are being squeezed by rising costs everywhere. Especially on essentials like gas, energy, and groceries.
Ohio families need a governor focused on lowering costs for working people.
Amy Acton has spent her career helping Ohio families, and she'll put working people first.
Glittering Generalities: The sentence uses vague, emotionally positive phrases like 'helping Ohio families' and 'put working people first' that sound noble but carry no specific policy meaning — for example: 'put working people first'
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-07spend $900–999100,000–124,999 impressions
Vivek Ramaswamy has never worked a job where somebody counts your hours.
He made his money on Wall Street and in drug companies. We can't trust a billionaire to protect prevailing wage and project labor agreements.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-072 variantsspend $1,000–1,198140,000–159,998 impressions
Amy Acton is a doctor, not a politician. She grew up poor and spent thirty years in public health.
Her priority as governor is lowering what your family pays. On prescription drugs, insurance premiums, medical debt.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-07spend $300–39930,000–34,999 impressions
Amy Acton is a doctor, not a politician. She grew up poor in a Youngstown steel family and spent thirty years in public health.
Her priority as governor is lowering what your family pays. On prescription drugs, insurance premiums, medical debt.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio AFL-CIOfrom 2026-10-072 variantsspend $800–99890,000–104,998 impressions
Ohio workers built this state. Amy Acton grew up in Youngstown. She knows the pride and the grit of Ohio's working families, because she comes from them.
The issues unions fight for are the same ones every working family cares about. Amy Acton gets that.
Glittering Generalities: The statement uses a vague, emotionally resonant claim about workers building the state to evoke pride without specific substance — for example: 'Ohio workers built this state'
Flag-Waving: Patriotic, religious, or in-group identity invoked to validate a position.
Slogans: Catchy phrase used to compress a complex position into an emotionally loaded shorthand.
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence invokes in-group identity by emphasizing that Acton comes from working families, implying authentic belonging to a valued community as a political credential — for example: 'she comes from them'
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'every working family' implies universal agreement to pressure conformity and suggest that union priorities are shared by all — for example: every working family cares about
Glittering Generalities
Flag-Waving
Slogans
Appeal to Prejudice
Bandwagon Appeal
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Glittering Generalities: The phrase uses vague, emotionally positive language about 'communities and families' without specifying any concrete policy or action — for example: 'put Ohio communities and families first'
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohioans for Amy Actonvideo · 0:30from 2026-10-06
He made millions scamming us with a drug that didn't work. Now Vivic Ramaswamy doesn't care about rising health care costs. Were Medicare and Medicaid mistakes?
I believe they were with the benefit of registr particularly Medicaid. That's right. Ramaswamy would dismantle Medicare and Medicaid kicking 500,000 Ohioans off their insurance and cutting rural hospital funding.
All to pay for tax breaks for billionaires like himself. Were Medicare and Medicaid mistakes? I believe they were.
The real mistake is electing Vivic Ramaswamy.
Loaded Language: The word 'scamming' is emotionally charged and implies deliberate fraud, designed to trigger outrage rather than convey neutral facts — for example: scamming us and doesn't care about rising health care costs.
Appeal to Prejudice: The use of 'us' creates an in-group identity of victims being wronged by an outsider, fostering an us-vs-them framing — for example: scamming us
Card Stacking: The sentence presents the allegation that the drug 'didn't work' as established fact without qualification or counterevidence, selectively framing the situation to support a negative conclusion — for example: a drug that didn't work and Vivic Ramaswamy doesn't care about rising health care costs.
Appeal to Fear: The rhetorical question implies that Medicare and Medicaid — programs millions depend on — may be threatened or eliminated, creating anxiety to provoke a defensive reaction — for example: Were Medicare and Medicaid mistakes?
Black-and-White Fallacy: The question frames the programs as either entirely valid or entirely mistakes, leaving no room for nuanced policy discussion — for example: Were Medicare and Medicaid mistakes?
Loaded Language
Appeal to Prejudice
Card Stacking
Appeal to Fear
Black-and-White Fallacy
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Watch on YouTube ↗Transcript above is auto-generated; the analysis is of the spoken words.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-063 variantsspend $2,300–2,997105,000–124,997 impressions
Don't wait until Nov. 3 – you can vote for Vivek today at your county board of elections. Bring your photo ID and skip the Election Day lines.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-063 variantsspend $900–1,19770,000–84,997 impressions
Early voting is open in Ohio! Vote at your county board of elections – no appointment needed. Bring your photo ID and cast your vote for Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-063 variantsspend $600–89750,000–60,997 impressions
Ohio, you have 3 ways to vote for Vivek:
✅ Vote early in person starting Oct. 6
✅ Vote by mail – request your ballot by Oct. 27 and send it back early. It must arrive by 7:30 PM on Nov. 3.
✅ Vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3
Pick your plan today!
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-0510 variantsspend $10,800–13,3901,150,000–1,374,990 impressions
Amy Acton won't debate me because she can’t defend the same liberal agenda that drove up prices under Biden and Kamala.
Gas, groceries, utility bills: it all costs too much, and Ohio families deserve relief. She'd make it worse. I'm already working to fix it:
Suspend the gas tax: 38.5¢ off every gallon (officially passed ✅)
Phase out the income tax
Cut property taxes
Lower energy bills with Ohio natural gas
Lower costs. Bigger paychecks. That's my plan.
Name Calling: The term 'liberal agenda' is used as a derogatory label to discredit Amy Acton and her positions without engaging with specific policy arguments — for example: liberal agenda
Card Stacking: The sentence presents the unverified claim that a 'liberal agenda drove up prices' as established fact, omitting any counterarguments or alternative explanations for price increases — for example: drove up prices under Biden and Kamala
Scapegoating: Complex economic factors behind price increases are blamed entirely on Biden and Kamala's 'liberal agenda', attributing a multifaceted problem to a single political group — for example: drove up prices under Biden and Kamala
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive promise with no specific policy detail or mechanism explained — for example: 'Bigger paychecks'
Name Calling
Card Stacking
Scapegoating
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-055 variantsspend $100–5958,100–12,995 impressions
Right now, my billionaire opponent and his allies are massively outspending us and filling the airwaves with ugly attack ads.
That’s no surprise – Vivek Ramaswamy is someone who can pour millions of his own wealth into this race like it’s pocket change. He even just got a $5 MILLION check from Elon Musk — the world's richest man. The ultra-wealthy are coming together to try and buy this race.
I’m asking for your help to prove that Vivek cannot buy Ohio and he can't buy us.
If you’re with me, please chip in $5 today. Your contribution will be put to work immediately in our fight to flip Ohio blue →
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see ohiodems.org/voterinfo
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged words are used to frame the opponent negatively and provoke a reaction rather than convey neutral facts — for example: 'ugly attack ads'
False Urgency: The phrase 'right now' creates a sense of immediate crisis designed to pressure the audience into action without deliberation — for example: 'Right now'
Appeal to Fear: The image of being overwhelmed by a wealthy opponent flooding the airwaves with attacks is designed to create anxiety and prompt a defensive response — for example: 'massively outspending us and filling the airwaves with ugly attack ads'
Name Calling: Labeling the opponent as 'billionaire' is used as a derogatory identity marker to discredit rather than address their arguments — for example: 'billionaire opponent'
Scapegoating: The sentence blames a single group ('the ultra-wealthy') for the outcome of the race, framing them as a unified conspiratorial force corrupting democracy — for example: 'The ultra-wealthy are coming together to try and buy this race'
Conspiracy Appeal: The phrase 'coming together' implies secret or sinister coordination among wealthy elites to subvert a democratic process — for example: 'The ultra-wealthy are coming together to try and buy this race'
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'buy us' invokes in-group identity, framing the audience as a unified community that stands apart from a wealthy outsider trying to purchase political influence — for example: cannot buy Ohio and he can't buy us
Loaded Language
False Urgency
Appeal to Fear
Name Calling
Scapegoating
Conspiracy Appeal
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-058 variantsspend $0–7925,500–12,992 impressions
Amy Acton here with a quick update.
Vivek Ramaswamy is outspending us 7-to-1 on ads right now. In a race this close, that amount of money could make all the difference.
That’s why we need your help to close that gap as much as possible, as soon as possible.
If everyone watching this video donated just $5, we would have the resources to compete against Vivek’s billionaire war chest.
So if you can – Please, chip in $5 today to help us fight back so we can flip Ohio blue.
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see ohiodems.org/voterinfo
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'everyone watching this video' implies collective participation to pressure viewers into donating — for example: "If everyone watching this video donated".
Loaded Language: The term 'billionaire war chest' uses emotionally charged language to frame the opponent's fundraising as militaristic and elitist — for example: billionaire war chest
Appeal to Fear: The framing implies that without donations the speaker cannot compete, creating anxiety about being outmatched by a wealthy opponent — for example: we would have the resources to compete
Bandwagon Appeal
Loaded Language
Appeal to Fear
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-05spend $100–1993,000–3,999 impressions
Just days before Ohioans cast the first votes of this critical election, Vivek Ramaswamy is rallying with President Trump.
If Vivek wins, he will prioritize pleasing Donald Trump and carrying out his agenda over helping hardworking Ohioans.
Vivek and his super wealthy allies are throwing MILLIONS of dollars to pull ahead in this toss-up race and buy Ohio. We can’t let that happen.
I’m humbly asking – Can you chip in $5 or $10 to our people-powered movement to help us compete against Vivek’s billionaire war chest and take back Ohio for the people?
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see https://ohiodems.org/voterinfo/
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'hardworking Ohioans' invokes in-group identity to contrast loyal, deserving locals against an outsider agenda — for example: hardworking Ohioans
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two options — pleasing Trump or helping Ohioans — implying these are mutually exclusive with no middle ground — for example: prioritize pleasing Donald Trump and carrying out his agenda over helping hardworking Ohioans
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged phrases like 'super wealthy allies' and 'buy Ohio' are used to trigger resentment and outrage rather than convey neutral facts — for example: 'buy Ohio'
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: The phrase 'buy Ohio' is a hyperbolic overstatement implying the entire state can be purchased, going beyond what evidence supports — for example: 'buy Ohio'
Appeal to Fear: Creates urgency and anxiety about the opponent's spending to pressure the audience into action against a perceived threat — for example: 'We can't let that happen'
False Urgency: Implies an immediate crisis requiring action to prevent a dire outcome, pressuring the audience without allowing for deliberation — for example: 'We can't let that happen'
Glittering Generalities: 'Take back Ohio for the people' uses vague, emotionally resonant language about popular empowerment without specifying any concrete policy or action — for example: 'take back Ohio for the people'
Appeal to Prejudice
Black-and-White Fallacy
Loaded Language
Exaggeration/Hyperbole
Appeal to Fear
False Urgency
Glittering Generalities
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-0510 variantsspend $30,200–39,7903,030,000–2,409,991 impressions
You shouldn't have to pick between filling your tank and filling your fridge.
So I didn't wait for Election Day. I pushed to suspend Ohio's gas tax, and the House and Senate passed it.
And I'm just getting started:
Phase out the income tax
Cut property taxes for seniors
Lower energy bills
Cut the bloat in Columbus
Amy Acton wants the same agenda that got us here. I want Ohio to be the most affordable state in America.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-0520 variantsspend $3,800–6,580611,300–719,980 impressions
Ohio seniors don't need empty political promises – they need real, delivered results. My plan is simple and non-negotiable:
Cut property taxes to keep seniors in their homes
Crack down on Medicaid fraud to stop waste
Keep Washington’s hands off your Social Security
As Governor, I will deliver on all three.
Loaded Language: The phrase 'empty political promises' uses emotionally charged language to dismiss political opponents and contrast them unfavorably with the speaker — for example: empty political promises
False Urgency: Describing the plan as 'non-negotiable' creates artificial pressure and forecloses deliberation or alternative approaches — for example: non-negotiable
Loaded Language
False Urgency
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-0520 variantsspend $3,600–5,980533,400–666,980 impressions
You worked hard and earned your Social Security – Washington has zero business touching a single penny. As your Governor, I’ll fight to protect every dollar you’ve built over a lifetime. We'll also crack down hard on Medicaid fraud to ensure resources go directly to the Ohioans who actually need them.
Loaded Language: The phrase 'zero business touching a single penny' uses emotionally charged language to frame federal involvement as an illegitimate intrusion — for example: zero business
Appeal to Prejudice: The sentence flatters the audience by affirming their hard work and implying Washington is an out-group threat to their earned benefits — for example: You worked hard and earned your Social Security and Ohioans who actually need them.
Glittering Generalities: The promise to 'fight to protect every dollar you've built over a lifetime' uses vague, emotionally positive language without specifying any concrete policy — for example: fight to protect every dollar you've built over a lifetime
Card Stacking: The sentence implies Medicaid fraud is a significant problem diverting resources, without providing evidence of its scale, selectively framing the issue to justify a policy stance — for example: crack down hard on Medicaid fraud
Loaded Language
Appeal to Prejudice
Glittering Generalities
Card Stacking
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-0520 variantsspend $2,500–4,880437,100–529,980 impressions
Our seniors spent their lives working hard, saving, and building Ohio. Now it's our turn to have their backs. As Governor, I will roll back skyrocketing property taxes, shield Social Security from federal overreach, and aggressively prosecute fraud to protect both our seniors and taxpayers.
Appeal to Prejudice: Invokes in-group identity by framing 'our seniors' as a shared community that built Ohio, creating an emotional bond between the speaker and a specific group — for example: Our seniors and our turn to have their backs.
Loaded Language: Uses emotionally charged words like 'skyrocketing', 'shield', 'overreach', and 'aggressively prosecute' to trigger alarm and rally support rather than convey neutral policy positions — for example: 'skyrocketing property taxes', 'federal overreach'
Appeal to Fear: Implies seniors are under threat from rising taxes, federal encroachment, and fraud, creating anxiety that demands the speaker's intervention — for example: 'shield Social Security from federal overreach'
Appeal to Prejudice
Loaded Language
Appeal to Fear
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-0510 variantsspend $28,700–33,8903,055,000–2,399,991 impressions
Talk is cheap. Gas isn't.
That's why I pushed to suspend Ohio's gas tax right now. It passed the legislature, and that's 38.5¢ a gallon back in your pocket.
Amy Acton would drag us backward with the same liberal agenda as Kamala Harris: less oil, more green subsidies, higher prices.
Loaded Language: The phrase 'drag us backward' uses emotionally charged language to frame the policy agenda as regressive and harmful — for example: drag us backward
Name Calling: The term 'liberal agenda' is used as a derogatory label to discredit Acton's positions without engaging their substance — for example: liberal agenda
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence implies that the only alternative to the current path is Acton's agenda of 'less oil, more green subsidies, higher prices,' presenting a binary framing that ignores nuanced policy options — for example: less oil, more green subsidies, higher prices
Card Stacking: The sentence selectively lists only negative outcomes ('higher prices') associated with the policy agenda while omitting any potential benefits, presenting a one-sided picture — for example: less oil, more green subsidies, higher prices
Loaded Language
Name Calling
Black-and-White Fallacy
Card Stacking
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohiofrom 2026-10-052 variantsspend $900–1,09859,000–69,998 impressions
Your Election Day polling place may be different from where you voted last time. Look it up now so you're ready to vote for Vivek on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-05spend $400–4996,000–6,999 impressions
Friends, I’m asking you to chip in just $1 to my campaign for governor.
My opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, is attempting to buy this election with his $50 million war chest.
I don’t rely on MAGA billionaires writing massive checks to my campaign – I rely on grassroots donors like you.
That’s why I’m lowering my ask to just $1. I know you’re not an ATM, but this race is a dead heat, and we can’t afford to fall behind now.
This is a critical moment for my campaign, so please chip in just $1 today to help us meet our midnight fundraising goal. >>
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see https://ohiodems.org/voterinfo/
Loaded Language: The phrase 'buy this election' and 'war chest' are emotionally charged terms designed to trigger negative reactions rather than neutrally describe campaign fundraising — for example: 'buy this election'
Loaded Language
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-057 variantsspend $300–99325,000–31,993 impressions
🌊 The wave is coming!
Ohio is ready to reject Vivek Ramaswamy and his attempts to buy this state. But the polls are close and this race is still anybody’s game.
That’s why we need your help. Your donation today will help us reach the last groups of undecided voters in this election. In a race with a margin this tight, every day and every dollar matters.
Will you chip in $5 or $10 today to help us stand up to Vivek’s billionaire war chest?
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see ohiodems.org/voterinfo
Loaded Language: The phrase 'attempts to buy this state' uses emotionally charged language implying corruption and illegitimacy rather than presenting factual claims about campaign finance — for example: 'attempts to buy this state'
Bandwagon Appeal: Claiming Ohio as a whole is 'ready to reject' implies a collective consensus to pressure readers toward a particular view — for example: 'Ohio is ready to reject'
False Urgency: Emphasizing the race is close and 'anybody's game' creates urgency implying action is needed before it is too late — for example: 'this race is still anybody's game'
Appeal to Fear: The framing implies that without donations, the opponent's massive financial advantage will overwhelm the reader's side, creating anxiety to compel action — for example: 'stand up to Vivek's billionaire war chest'
Appeal to Prejudice: The appeal to 'us' versus Vivek's 'billionaire war chest' invokes in-group solidarity against a wealthy outsider to pressure the reader to identify with the group — for example: 'help us stand up to'
Loaded Language
Bandwagon Appeal
False Urgency
Appeal to Fear
Appeal to Prejudice
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-059 variantsspend $0–89114,200–22,991 impressions
Just days before Ohioans cast the first votes of this critical election, Vivek Ramaswamy is rallying with President Trump.
If Vivek wins, he will prioritize pleasing Donald Trump and carrying out his agenda over helping hardworking Ohioans.
Vivek and his super wealthy allies are throwing MILLIONS of dollars to pull ahead in this toss-up race and buy Ohio. We can’t let that happen.
I’m humbly asking – Can you chip in $5 or $10 to our people-powered movement to help us compete against Vivek’s billionaire war chest and take back Ohio for the people?
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see ohiodems.org/voterinfo
Appeal to Prejudice: The phrase 'hardworking Ohioans' invokes in-group identity to contrast loyal, deserving locals against a candidate portrayed as serving an outside figure — for example: hardworking Ohioans
Black-and-White Fallacy: The sentence presents only two options — either pleasing Trump or helping Ohioans — implying these are mutually exclusive with no middle ground — for example: prioritize pleasing Donald Trump and carrying out his agenda over helping hardworking Ohioans
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged phrases like 'super wealthy allies' and 'buy Ohio' are used to trigger resentment and outrage rather than convey neutral facts — for example: 'buy Ohio'
False Urgency: The phrase 'We can't let that happen' creates an immediate imperative to act, implying there is no time for deliberation and that failure to act now will result in a lost opportunity — for example: 'We can't let that happen'
Appeal to Fear: The sentence implies a dire consequence — Ohio being 'bought' by wealthy outsiders — if the reader does not respond immediately, designed to override rational deliberation — for example: 'We can't let that happen'
Bandwagon Appeal: The phrase 'people-powered movement' implies mass participation and pressures the reader to join the crowd — for example: people-powered movement
Appeal to Prejudice
Black-and-White Fallacy
Loaded Language
False Urgency
Appeal to Fear
Bandwagon Appeal
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by Ohio Democratic Partyfrom 2026-10-059 variantsspend $800–1,69130,200–42,991 impressions
Friends, I’m asking you to chip in just $1 to my campaign for governor.
My opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, is attempting to buy this election with his $50 million war chest.
I don’t rely on MAGA billionaires writing massive checks to my campaign – I rely on grassroots donors like you.
That’s why I’m lowering my ask to just $1. I know you’re not an ATM, but this race is a dead heat, and we can’t afford to fall behind now.
This is a critical moment for my campaign, so please chip in just $1 today to help us meet our midnight fundraising goal. >>
For information on options for early in-person voting, voting by mail, and voting at the polls, and ODP's endorsed candidates, see ohiodems.org/voterinfo
Loaded Language: The phrase 'buy this election' and 'war chest' are emotionally charged terms designed to trigger negative reactions rather than neutrally describe campaign fundraising — for example: 'buy this election'
Loaded Language
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid posts that ran in OH and name a candidate, from advertisers that aren't part of this race: news-style pages, campaigns for other offices, and others. They're shown here for completeness and not counted with the ads above. We show the same technique analysis; their claims are not checked.
Buckeye Bulletin: news-style page
Paid for by Buckeye Bulletinfrom 2026-09-09 to 2026-09-152 variantsspend $0–1982,000–3,998 impressions
Democrat Amy Acton’s campaign says she will not debate Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, arguing that Acton is focused on speaking with Ohioans rather than “platforming a scam artist” and accusing Ramaswamy and his allies of spreading false and personal attacks against her.
Vivek's campaign has also highlighted past comments from Acton’s running mate, David Pepper, who criticized candidates who refused to debate, saying they showed “contempt for voters and civic groups.”
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it ran mostly in OH and names a nominee for governor — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office (a U.S. Senate or House campaign included), or it also names OH's Senate nominees, in which case it is on the Senate race's page. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
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Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific manipulative move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
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Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.
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