The political arm of Ohio's largest physician-led organization is backing Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy for governor over fellow physician, Democratic Dr. Amy Acton.
The political action committee for the Ohio State Medical Association, which describes itself as the leading voice for physicians, residents and medical students in Ohio
, endorsed Ramaswamy following a conversation with the candidate and his wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, who is a physician and assistant professor at Ohio State University.
"My wife is a surgeon, and I understand all that goes into caring for patients," Ramaswamy said in a statement. "Ohio’s doctors need a governor who listens to them, gets unnecessary
bureaucracy out of their way, and gives them the tools they need to provide exceptional care to patients across our state. That’s exactly what I'll do starting in January.”
OSMA President Dr. Gary Katz and PAC Chair Dr. Anne Taylor cited Ramaswamy's commitment to reducing administrative burdens and insurance barriers on doctors as one reason they backed the Republican.
But not all Ohio doctors agree with the organization's endorsement. Hundreds signed off on an open letter, which read: "When a medical organization backs a candidate who threatens the very foundation of patient care, it betrays the core duty of our profession."
It's not unusual for an organization's political arm and its members to disagree on an endorsement, especially when the organization represents thousands of practicing physicians. For example, labor union membership is politically dividedeven though union leaders frequently backed Democrats.
"We share many of the same concerns about the challenges facing our patients and our profession; however, as the state’s largest physician association, representing medical doctors from all practice settings and specialties, we may differ in our opinions about the appropriate roles of government, markets, insurers, employers and healthcare institutions," Katz wrote about the PAC's endorsement.
In the past, OSMA's political arm has backed Republicans and Democrats. The PAC endorsed GOP Gov. Mike DeWine in 2018 and 2022 andsupported Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan in 2022. It backed all Republicans for the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022, but endorsed several Democrats for congressional and state legislative seats.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio doctor group backs Ramaswamy over Acton; some upset with decision
