Dr. Amy Acton is back in the spotlight, but this time, she’s not wearing a white lab coat—she’s running for governor of Ohio.
Acton, 58, filed paperwork Tuesday to officially kick off her campaign, stepping into the 2026 race to replace term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine. Running as a Democrat in a deep-red state is no easy feat, but Acton says she’s ready to tackle Ohio’s challenges head-on.
“You don’t go through what we’ve been through—trying to save 11.7 million people—and not have some special connection,” Acton told the Associated Press, reflecting on her time as Ohio’s health director during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you remember those daily pandemic briefings, Acton stood beside DeWine, breaking down complicated public health info into bite-sized pieces. She became a trusted voice for many but also faced sharp criticism for her stay-at-home orders and other COVID-era restrictions. By mid-2020, after months of public praise and backlash, she stepped down from her role.
Now, Acton says Ohio needs a fresh perspective.
“It’s not OK with me that Ohioans don’t live as long as people do in other states,” she told the AP. “It’s not OK with me to watch what used to be a top education system begin to fall year after year. I’m not a politician. But I am a leader and a problem solver.”
She’s got a big road ahead. Ohio’s GOP-heavy political landscape means she’ll likely face well-known Republicans like Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost. But Acton is focusing on her strengths, emphasizing her background as a doctor and public servant rather than a career politician.
Featured image via Ohio Department of Health (Facebook)
