Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton voted in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday morning, as the state's closely watched race for governor begins.

Acton is facing off against Republican candidate and former businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in a race jostled by controversial ads and bitter campaigning.

Speaking to reporters after casting her ballot, Acton expressed optimism about her chances of winning.

“The energy of folks, there's actual joy and hope out here, and watching people with one another, I almost feel like I'm watching it instead of being in the middle of it,” Acton said. “So it's a great uplifting feeling. We didn't get here overnight in Ohio. We have a lot of work ahead of us, so we're going to need that energy because I'm going to be asking more of everybody as we move forward.”

She also said Ohioans are struggling with costs and looking for someone to bring the temperature down.

Acton said she sees Ohio as a bellwether: “I do think we are ground zero for decency and compassion and integrity being on the ballot, and I am very hopeful that we'll see that continue to grow.”

-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim and Diana Paulsen

Speaking to reporters before casting his ballot in Columbus Tuesday morning, Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy acknowledged challenges facing voters.

“It is a tough time. There's no doubt about it,” he said. “People are looking not just to make ends meet, but get ahead… This election, especially for the role of governor, just comes down to who's going to allow your family to live a better life.”

“I've been a candidate the whole time. But today, I was also wearing my hat as a voter. And as I think about every other voter who's checking that box next to my name, or frankly anything on that ballot, I want them to hold me, hold all of us on this ticket accountable to deliver for them,” Ramaswamy added after casting his ballot.

Ramaswamy did not directly discuss his opponent, Democrat Amy Acton.

-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim and Diana Paulsen

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC news on Tuesday morning that he expects Democrats will win control of the Senate and he will be the next Senate majority leader.

Talking to reporters shortly after he voted in Brooklyn, Schumer described his mood as "nauseously optimistic." If Democrats regain the house majority, it would be "up to" Trump on whether to work with them, Schumer said.

"Look, it'll be up to him. The American people want us to do things that make their lives better. Trump has refused to listen to them," Schumer said. "He's even, at time to time, sort of dissed those costs, those kinds of things that people are caring about of costs and things like that. Will he change? I don't think I don't know. But we're going to fight Trump tooth and nail and focus on the issues no matter what he does."

Schumer previously served as majority leader between 2021 and 2025.

Asked whether Democrats would seek to work with the president or whether they would seek to hold him accountable, Schumer said that would in some ways be up to Trump.

"We'll see if he will actually change his ways and join," Schumer said. "But whether he does or not, because I don't think he will, we are going to keep fighting for the people and doing what they asked us to do. We're listening to them. Trump is not."

-ABC News' Jonathan Karl

An issue involving paper ballots is “preventing voting machines from accepting ballots" in Westchester County north of New York City Tuesday morning, state and local officials said early Tuesday.

Westchester is part of the 17th Congressional District, home to a high-profile House race in the Empire State between Republican incumbent Mike Lawler and Democratic challenger Cait Conley, and covers northern Westchester County.

The county election board said voters should remain in line and exercise patience, and assured residents that their vote would count. Voters are being asked to place paper ballots in orange bags, "which will remain secure and monitored,” officials said.

"These ballots will subsequently be counted in accordance with applicable election procedures,” the county said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the thickness of the paper ballots was making it difficult for the machines to read them. The state’s attorney general, Letitia James, said her office was monitoring the issue as local officials “work on a solution.”

-ABC News’ Jared Kofsky and Lucien Bruggeman