COLUMBUS – Dr. Amy Acton, the former Ohio health director who gained fame during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, has revealed that she is contemplating a run for governor in 2026.
Acton shared her thoughts with reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday.
“I have valuable experience that I want to give back, and I feel that this is the right time in my life to do so,” said the physician and public health expert in an interview with cleveland.com. Acton, a Democrat, mentioned that she gained insight into how the governor’s office operates while serving in Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration, particularly during their regular televised COVID-19 briefings in 2020.
“My main focus is always on how I can best serve others,” she expressed to the USA Today Network Ohio Bureau. “Admittedly, I am not a politician. I used to joke that I’m the Ted Lasso of politics.”
Acton’s stint as state health director propelled her into the statewide and national limelight for a period.
She received acclaim for her combination of expertise and comforting presence, which reassured residents during the initial outbreak of the virus.
Despite the praise, Acton faced criticism for her exercise of emergency powers during the pandemic, which included actions like postponing the state’s presidential primary and implementing stay-at-home orders to curb the virus’s spread.
After enduring public scrutiny, protests, lawsuits, and personal attacks, Acton resigned from her position but never lost her passion for public service. In 2021, she briefly considered a run for the U.S. Senate.
As Republicans gear up for the next gubernatorial race in two years, candidates like Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost are already positioning themselves for a run, as current Governor DeWine will be termed out.
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