Amy Acton Campaign Says Armed Person Lunged at Candidate at Ohio Fair
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Amy Acton's campaign said an armed individual lunged at the candidate during a visit to the Canfield Fair on Sunday and that multiple people were injured in the incident, prompting a law enforcement response and condemnation from both major campaigns in Ohio's closely watched governor's race.
According to a statement released by Acton's campaign, the incident occurred while the former Ohio health director was attending the annual fair in Mahoning County near Youngstown.
"While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people," campaign communications director Addie Bullock said in a statement. "Dr. Acton and Eric are grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured."
The campaign did not immediately provide details about the suspect, the weapons allegedly involved, or the nature and extent of the injuries. It also did not initially say whether Acton herself had been hurt.
NBC News later reported that Acton was not injured, though the extent of injuries suffered by others was not immediately known.
Newsweek reached out to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Canfield Fair officials and the Acton campaign Sunday evening seeking additional details.
The incident took place Sunday afternoon during Acton's appearance at the Canfield Fair, one of Ohio's largest annual fairs. Christopher Anderson, chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, said on Facebook that the confrontation occurred at the county Democratic Party's tent.
Anderson said a suspect was taken into custody and described the episode as political violence that should be condemned by leaders across the political spectrum. He also praised law enforcement's response.
Anderson said the party was grateful for the response from local law enforcement and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which was providing security for Acton at the event.
Local reports also said the suspect was allegedly armed with multiple weapons and that several campaign volunteers were knocked to the ground during the confrontation, although authorities had not publicly confirmed those details as of Sunday evening.
Acton is facing Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy in November's election to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine. The race is among the nation's most closely watched gubernatorial contests.
Ramaswamy's campaign condemned the incident in a statement provided to Newsweek .
"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," Connie Luck, communications director for Vivek for Ohio, said.
NBC News reported that Ramaswamy had also been scheduled to visit the Canfield Fair on Sunday.
As of Sunday afternoon, details from law enforcement remained limited.
NBC News reported that Canfield police did not immediately have information available about the incident or a suspect when contacted. The Ohio State Highway Patrol also did not immediately respond to a request for information.
The Acton campaign said law enforcement acted swiftly. Authorities had not publicly released information regarding potential charges, the suspect's identity or a possible motive.
Acton, a physician and Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee, became widely known across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic while serving as director of the Ohio Department of Health under DeWine's administration.
In Sunday's statement, her campaign denounced the incident and framed it as part of a broader concern about political hostility.
"This kind of violence has no place in Ohio," Bullock said. "Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another."
The investigation remained active Sunday evening, and additional details had not yet been released by authorities.
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