The former state health director spoke to a packed room about her candidacy, calling on Ohioans to ‘refuse to look the other way.’
Dr. Amy Acton took her bid for governor to the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, where she discussed her vision for Ohio with a focus on unity, urgency, and a grassroots approach to rebuilding the state.
As the former Ohio health director who played a crucial role in managing the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, Acton emphasized the importance of addressing issues such as growing inequality, deteriorating infrastructure, and the divisive nature of contemporary politics. She urged Ohio residents to actively confront these challenges rather than turning a blind eye.
Acton stated, “I am seeking the governorship because many people in Ohio are facing hardships, and we are regressing in various aspects due to the influence of special interests and ineffective policies. The time has come for a significant shift.”
Acton’s appearance came days after releasing her first campaign video, where she draws on her difficult childhood in Youngstown, her rise to medicine and public service, and her belief in Ohio’s potential.
“People are begging for change and I refuse to look the other way while people are struggling,” she told 3News in an interview after the speech.
In her address, Acton detailed how her early upbringing in poverty and abuse shaped her outlook, crediting public schools and community kindness for her ability to succeed—and pledging to restore those lifelines for others.
“My life took a completely different path because I [finally got the chance to stay] in one place and had access to a good school,” she said. “Your zip code can predict how long you live and what kind of life you will have.”
During her remarks and post-speech interview, Acton was sharply critical of the recently approved state budget, citing cuts to public education, healthcare access, and community programs.
“Every child deserves a world-class education,” she said. “We are still not funding the bipartisan fair funding proposal. And now they’re taking teachers off their own retirement pension board. This is a travesty.”
She also expressed concerns over the continued defunding of clean water programs like H2Ohio and voiced opposition to public dollars being used for major sports facilities at the expense of essential services.
“I think the Browns are very, very important to our community,” she acknowledged to 3News. “But billionaire owners can do a project on their own. We should be instead focused on things like childcare and real reasonable tax relief and healthcare, and a child tax credit and school lunches and a number of other issues that Ohioans are begging we be focused on.”
Acton says her campaign aims to be more than a typical political race. She envisions a state where shared humanity becomes the guiding principle of governance.
“We saved a lot of lives [during COVID], but most importantly, we saved each other. And that’s how we’ll solve what we face in this state—by doing that again,” she said.
She also directly addressed the polarization that followed her public health leadership.
“Yes, the hate is real. But I need you to understand—the love was so much greater,” Acton said. “Kindness is an age-old, enduring principle. It is not weakness. That’s what we are longing for in leaders.”
Acton is the first Democrat to formally launch a bid for Ohio governor in the 2026 race. Her message has resonated with a wide cross-section of voters, including independents and moderate Republicans.
Despite talk of possible Democratic challengers like Tim Ryan or Shontel Brown, Acton told 3News she’s committed to staying in the race.
“I’m in this for Ohio,” she said. “We’re seeing record people everywhere we go—independents and Republicans as well.”
Acton’s campaign says it raised more in the first quarter than any previous Democratic gubernatorial campaign in Ohio history, with an average donation of $23.
As for what comes next, Acton said her campaign will soon unveil a statewide grassroots platform, inspired by her experiences but driven by the voices of everyday Ohioans.
“We have to co-create the world we want to live in,” she told the audience. “This is not a drill. We cannot afford to look the other way.”
