Amy Acton

Amy Acton is a nominee for governor of Ohio in the 2026 election. She grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, in a working-class family, an experience that, she says, has shaped her approach to public service. Acton earned a medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from Ohio State University. She served as director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. After leaving the state government, Acton continued working on community health and economic opportunity. In her gubernatorial campaign, she has emphasized lowering the cost of living, protecting access to health care, supporting working families, and restoring trust in government. Elections will take place on Tuesday, November 3.