Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is proposing a mix of housing construction incentives, permitting changes and restrictions on corporate home buying as voters begin casting ballots in the 2026 election. Acton’s campaign says she would expand the state’s Welcome Home Ohio program, which provides grants and tax credits to rehabilitate older homes, so it could also encourage new construction, including multifamily housing for the workforce. She would also establish a governor’s housing council and make housing data publicly available through a statewide dashboard. Other proposals include making it easier to obtain permits for new homes and renovations, supporting first-time buyers, and limiting corporations’ ability to purchase housing. Large investment firms’ acquisitions of homes have become a growing concern in housing debates. “Dr. Acton knows housing is just too expensive right now, from buying your first home to affording rent,” campaign spokesperson Addie Bullock said, adding that Acton’s childhood experience with homelessness shaped her understanding of the issue. Acton’s Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, has argued in public appearances and on social media that cutting regulations would encourage homebuilding and lower costs. In an August television appearance, he acknowledged affordability problems in Ohio and said regulations that impede construction should be reduced to increase supply. His campaign did not respond to a request for specific actions he would take as governor, and his campaign website does not lay out a housing-specific plan. Ramaswamy has also proposed eliminating Ohio’s income tax and significantly reducing property taxes. Housing advocates have warned that eliminating the income tax could leave a substantial hole in the state budget, potentially putting programs that support affordable housing at risk, including the Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Acton has separately called for expanding the Homestead Exemption to cover more seniors and creating a rebate to shield homeowners from sudden property-tax increases. She also supports more state funding for public education, arguing it would reduce reliance on local property taxes to pay for schools. The Libertarian ticket has also addressed housing. James Mills, the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Don Kissick, said their approach would encourage construction through zoning and permitting changes and discourage institutional investors from buying single-family homes. Mills said the goal was to make it easier to build homes and reuse existing land and buildings while giving Ohio families a better chance to own newly built homes. Ohio’s early in-person voting began Oct. 6. The competing proposals put the focus on how the next governor could respond to rising housing costs—through increased construction, direct support for buyers and renters, limits on large investors, or some combination of those approaches.