Republican frontrunner Vivek Ramaswamy has intensified the political spotlight on education in Ohio, accusing Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former state health director Dr Amy Acton of worsening inequality by supporting statewide school closures during the COVID-19 lockdown. In a widely shared campaign video, Ramaswamy argued that Democrats have ‘no solution to fix education’ and claimed that the shutdowns caused learning losses that children ‘will never fully recover from’, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Ramaswamy links lockdown closures to widening inequality
Ramaswamy’s criticism focuses on the March 2020 suspension of in-person learning across Ohio, a decision implemented during the early spread of the pandemic. He argues that the closures disproportionately harmed low-income families, widened achievement gaps, and reduced academic progression, citing research showing declines in reading and maths performance during remote schooling. He claims that Democrats are now ‘pretending to care about inequality after creating it’ and is positioning education as a central issue in the 2026 governor’s race.In the video, Ramaswamy says that ‘Democrats love to preach about educational inequality, but they have no solutions to fix it’ and insists that ‘if we want to get serious about fixing the problem, we have got to think creatively’. He highlights a school he visited that ‘serves a Medicaid-only population, takes the school day out to 4 p.m., allows more time for physical education, and more flexibility for parents’.Ramaswamy also challenges his opponent directly, saying that ‘if Democrats want to distort my position, let them’ and arguing that ‘my opponent, Amy Acton, has absolutely zero vision for how she is going to help education in Ohio’. He finishes the video with the declaration that ‘we know you locked down our schools, but that is not a solution’ and that ‘we are finding a better way forward’.Supporters say his message resonates with parents who remain frustrated with the long-term effects of the pandemic and who favour extended school days, expanded physical activity, and flexible schedules to address what he calls the ‘summer slide’.Acton, who became a recognisable public figure during the pandemic, has defended the shutdowns as precautionary steps taken during a period of uncertainty. She has dismissed Ramaswamy’s claims as political opportunism and says attacks on her record overlook the broader public health context of 2020.
Education becomes a key dividing line in the Ohio election
With both candidates using schools to symbolise wider questions about public services, inequality, and cultural identity, education has emerged as one of the most emotionally charged issues of the 2026 contest. The campaign will test whether voter resentment over lockdowns still holds influence, or whether Ohioans now prioritise stability, investment, and recovery in the post-pandemic period.
