Acton Calls Ohio ‘Ground Zero’ in Governor’s Race, Touts Record Primary Turnout

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is casting her state as the decisive front in the nation’s political fight, telling supporters that the November election will determine the country’s direction. In video footage circulating online this week, the former state health director pointed to her primary performance and working-class roots as evidence she can break the GOP’s long hold on the governor’s mansion.

“This is it. We are ground zero,” Acton said in the video, addressing a room of backers. “In the primary, guys, I had no opponent. We had more votes for governor than any candidate on either side of the aisle in history. And we won Youngstown.”

Acton, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in May, framed her bid as a historic opportunity. “I want you guys to know that I’ve never been in a room in two and a half years where people don’t tear up while I’m talking,” she added. “First of all, we’re going to have the first woman governor. But I just want you to know with 30 days left.”

A Tight Race in a Shifting State

The contest has remained close throughout the year. RealClearPolling’s average as of Sunday put Acton ahead of Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy by roughly a third of a percentage point — a statistical toss-up. Nine independent surveys conducted since February have shown both candidates within a few points of one another, underscoring the volatile nature of the race.

Acton’s campaign plans to focus on the Mahoning Valley, an area where she says her Youngstown upbringing gives her an edge. She has cast herself as the candidate who can appeal to working-class voters who have drifted from the Democratic Party in recent cycles. No Democrat has won a gubernatorial election in Ohio since 2006, and Acton is hoping to end that drought in a state that has trended Republican in federal races.

A Tense Final Stretch

The video emerged just a day after an armed man was arrested at the Canfield Fair after pushing through a crowd toward Acton, knocking two people to the ground. Acton was not hurt, but the incident highlighted the heightened tensions surrounding the campaign.

The race has grown increasingly bitter in its closing weeks. Acton has declined to debate Ramaswamy, with her campaign labeling him a “scam artist who spreads baseless lies” and accusing him of using artificial intelligence to distort her record. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, has not held public office, and his campaign has been marked by aggressive attacks on Acton’s tenure as state health director during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historical Stakes

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited and cannot seek a third consecutive term, leaving the seat open for the first time in eight years. Acton’s bid would make her Ohio’s first woman governor if she wins, a point she emphasized in her remarks to supporters.

With voters heading to the polls on November 3, Acton is positioning Ohio as the linchpin of the national battle. “We are ground zero,” she repeated, urging her audience to mobilize in the final days. The coming weeks will test whether her message can translate into votes in a state that has eluded Democrats for nearly two decades.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/07/amy-acton-says-ohio-is-ground-zero-ahead-of-november-election/