Former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton considers run for governor

CHICAGO — While most of the focus is on the presidential race, some Ohioans are already looking at the governor race in 2026, and Dr. Amy Acton is putting her name in the mix.

The former director of the Ohio Department of Health confirmed her consideration for the race on Tuesday at the Ohio delegate breakfast during the Democratic National Convention, making her the first to announce her consideration from the state’s Democratic Party.

“I’m considering it,” Dr. Acton said. “Right now, we’re focused on Sherrod Brown and the Supreme Court candidates. I’m doing a lot up and down the ticket ... but it’s something I’ve been considering over the past few years.”

During her time as health director, she worked closely with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on the opioid crisis and helped the state through the coronavirus pandemic. She resigned from her role in 2020. She was also a possible contender for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat in 2022, but she decided not to run. Dr. Acton said working with Mr. DeWine inspired her interest for the governor race.

“I didn’t know the governor when he reached out to me, but when I worked with him, I was able to really be beside him in the role,” Dr. Acton said.

In 2022, the former mayor of Dayton, Nan Whaley, ran against Mr. DeWine, who won 62.5 percent of the votes statewide. Dr. Acton said Ms. Whaley’s run only motivates her.

“Kansas has had three women. Michigan has had two,” she said. “... At a time when women’s issues are so paramount ... I think we need more women stepping up.”

The Ohio Republicans have plenty of candidates, with Attorney General Dave Yost, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, and state Treasurer Robert Sprague all announcing their consideration to run, but the Democrats had yet to field a potential candidate. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Elizabeth Walters praised Dr. Acton as an incredible leader but teased that more candidates will hop in the race.

“I think we got quite a few folks here who are thinking about 2026 runs,” Ms. Walters said. “But at the end of the day, as we all know, I have an election on November 5, and until we get through that, we’ll be focused on Senator Brown … and picking up county seats all over the state.”

Despite the delegation’s support for Mr. Brown, he will not be in attendance at the DNC this week. Instead, he is spending his time in Ohio campaigning for his re-election. He will be on the November ballot against Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno.

While it’s only Day 2 of the DNC, some of Ohio’s congressional members facing tough races are noticeably not in attendance. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) has yet to make her appearance. A spokesman told The Blade on Friday that her schedule for this week had yet to be confirmed. U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D., Columbus) said Ms. Kaptur should be at home in her district because of her tight race against state Rep. Derek Merrin (R., Monclova Township).

“Look, there are not a lot of folks here that can vote for her in comparison to what you can get when you’re knocking on doors, when you’re passing out literature,” Ms. Beatty said.

She added that she has spoken with both Ms. Kaptur and Mr. Brown, supporting them in their decision to focus on their campaigns.

Ms. Beatty, who is facing her own re-election race in November, sponsored Tuesday morning’s breakfast and invited Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D., S.C.), and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) to rally the delegation. Mr. Booker even stood on a chair in the middle of the breakfast, rather than the stage, to enthuse Ohio voters.

“This election is not won because we have the best candidate,” Mr. Booker said. “It’s won because we in the grass roots get it done. In Ohio and all across these great states, this election will be decided by the people, because in America, we know the power of the people is greater than the people in power.”