CANFIELD, Ohio — Two people were injured Saturday after an armed man forced his way through a tent at a campaign event for Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair near Youngstown, according to the candidate’s campaign.
Acton’s campaign said in a statement that the incident occurred while Acton was attending the fair. The statement did not specify whether Acton herself was harmed, saying only that the armed individual lunged at her and injured multiple people.
“While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people,” the campaign said. “Dr. Acton and Eric are grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured. This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another.”
The campaign’s statement referred to Acton and her husband, Eric, by first names.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 38-year-old Patrick Havas. He is expected to face two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct, according to updates from the scene.
The incident drew a swift response from political figures across the state, including Acton’s Republican opponent in the gubernatorial race, Vivek Ramaswamy. His campaign issued a statement condemning the attack.
“Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence. What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics, and we hope that no one was hurt,” said Connie Luck, Ramaswamy’s campaign communications director.
The attack comes amid an already heated campaign season in Ohio, where Acton — a physician and former state health director who rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic — is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, is running on the GOP side.
The Gateway Pundit reported that the incident occurred at the Canfield Fair, but did not provide further details about the condition of the injured individuals or the circumstances leading up to the attack. The outlet noted that additional information about the alleged attack was expected to be released in an update.
Saturday’s event had been notable even before the incident, as Acton delivered an impassioned speech in which she repeatedly chanted that her wealthy opponent could not buy the state. Video from the event showed Acton leading the crowd in a chant, saying, “You cannot buy this state! You cannot buy Ohiooooo! You can’t buy us. You can’t buy us!”
Acton then tried to get the room to repeat the line, adding, “You can’t buy us! You can’t buy us in Ohio! That is the end of this.”
Observers noted that the chant drew comparisons to former Vice President Kamala Harris’s speaking style, with some critics suggesting Acton sounded intoxicated at the event. The Gateway Pundit offered that characterization, though no evidence of intoxication was provided.
The attack at the fair follows a broader national conversation about the safety of political candidates and the rising tensions in campaign environments. Both Acton and Ramaswamy have condemned political violence, and their campaigns have called for civility in the race.
Authorities have not yet announced a motive for the attack or whether Havas had any prior connection to Acton or her campaign. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be filed.
Acton’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment beyond its initial statement. The Canfield Fair, a longtime Ohio tradition, continued operations on Sunday, though law enforcement presence was increased in the aftermath of the incident.
This is a developing story. More details are expected to be released as authorities continue their investigation.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/multiple-people-injured-after-armed-man-lunges-democrat/