Amy Acton

Amy Acton
Acton in 2025
Director of the Ohio Department of Health
In office
February 26, 2019 – June 11, 2020
GovernorMike DeWine
Preceded byLance Himes
Succeeded byLance Himes (acting)
Personal details
BornAmy Leigh Stearns
(1966-02-16) February 16, 1966
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Douglas Beech
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1989; div. 2008)​
  • Eric Acton
    ​
    (m. 2010)​
Children3
EducationYoungstown State University (BS)
Northeast Ohio Medical University (MD)
Ohio State University (MPH)
WebsiteCampaign website

Amy Leigh Acton (née Stearns, formerly Beech; born February 16, 1966)[1] is an American physician and researcher who is the Democratic nominee for governor of Ohio.[2][3] From 2019 to 2020, Acton served as the director of the Ohio Department of Health, in which capacity she led Ohio's COVID-19 pandemic response.[4] Before and immediately after serving as director of the Ohio Department of Health, she worked at the Columbus Foundation. She left the foundation upon announcing her candidacy in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election.

Early life and education

Amy Leigh Stearns grew up in the north side of Youngstown, Ohio.[5][6] She has said that after her parents divorced, she experienced neglect, abuse, and periods of homelessness.[7] By 7th grade, she moved in with her father, found more stability, and at Liberty High School, she was named to the National Honor Society.

She earned her bachelor's degree at Youngstown State University after paying her way through college[8] and received her medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University in 1990.[9] She completed residencies in pediatrics and preventive medicine,[10] earned a master's in public health from Ohio State University,[5] and trained at Albert Einstein College of Medicine[9] and Nationwide Children's Hospital.[5]

Career

Acton taught at Ohio State University as an associate professor of practice in public health.[5][11] She worked at the Columbus Foundation as a grants manager[12] and was director of Project LOVE (Love Our kids, Vaccinate Early).[10]

Acton was introduced to political organization when she volunteered for the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign. She created a local email group for Bexley, Ohio, called "Bexley, Yes We Can!" and publicized campaign events using Facebook.[13]

Ohio Department of Health director (2019–2020)

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio

In February 2019, Ohio governor Mike DeWine made Acton his final cabinet pick as director of the Department of Health.[5][14] Acton was the first woman in the post.[9][15][16] The two previous incumbents were a lawyer and a marketing director; DeWine mentioned wanting to "rethink how we approach this department".[17]

In 2020, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acton advised DeWine, who became the first U.S. governor to close schools and limit gatherings to 100 people. Acton soon estimated that Ohio's then 5 confirmed cases likely translated to 100,000 actual cases, making national news.[18] In mid-March, she predicted cases could peak in late April to mid-May.[19]

On March 12, Acton said of the pandemic, "This will be the thing this generation remembers."[18][20][21] Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes called her "the real MVP of Ohio's coronavirus response."[5] The Dayton Daily News called her "Ohio's trusted face during the pandemic."[10]

Acton was an advocate of postponing the 2020 Ohio Democratic presidential primary, which was slated for March 17, 2020. The day before the scheduled election, DeWine canceled it, but a judge ruled he did not have the authority to do so. Acton then ordered polling places closed due to a public health emergency.[22] It was later determined that the election would be conducted entirely by mail-in absentee ballot for those who had not participated in early voting.[23] In April 2020, CNN called her "the Buckeye state's version of the straight-talking Dr. Anthony Fauci".[6]

On April 1, DeWine was reported as "quick to defer to Dr. Acton for specific questions on the virus and its spread" during daily news briefings, "reminding Ohioans that the state's decisions are driven by science."[14]

In May 2020, a group of 35 gyms sued the Ohio Department of Health, Acton, and the Lake County General Health District over COVID-related health restrictions, and Lake County Court of Common Pleas Judge Eugene Lucci issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from "imposing or enforcing penalties solely for non-compliance with the director's order" against gyms and fitness centers, "so long as they operate in compliance with all applicable safety regulations."[24] The state appealed the decision, but Acton had signed an order permitting gyms to reopen in the interim,[25] and a court of appeals later dismissed the case as moot.[24][26]

Beginning in May 2020, protesters began showing up at Acton's home in Columbus[27] and at press conferences. Acton was assigned a security detail.[28]

On May 20, 2020, the Ohio Senate unanimously voted against a proposal advanced by state House Republicans (and approved by the House on a nearly party-line vote) that would have limited the power of DeWine and Acton by restricting Ohio Department of Health orders to 14 days and requiring any extensions to be approved by a state joint legislative committee.[29] After Republican state legislators and then-Speaker of the House Larry Householder introduced bills that she believed would violate her Hippocratic Oath,[30][31] Acton resigned on June 11, and became a chief health advisor for DeWine's administration.[24][32] She has said that her resignation had nothing to do with protesters or the controversy over her and DeWine's stay-at-home orders.[33] She was succeeded by Lance Himes as interim director.[32] In August, she announced she had left her position as advisor to the administration.[34]

Due to her work as the Director of the Ohio Department of Health, she received a Profile in Courage Award from Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg. The New York Times called her "The Leader We Wish We All Had".[35]

Nonprofit sector work

After her resignation, she resumed working for the Columbus Foundation.[30][36] On February 4, 2021, Acton stepped down from the Columbus Foundation as she considered a run for the Senate in 2022 to succeed Rob Portman.[37] In April 2021, she chose not to run and thanked Ohioans for an "outpouring of support".[38]

In 2022, Acton was named president and chief executive officer of RAPID 5, a nonprofit organization that attempts to improve access to parks in Franklin County, part of the greater Columbus area.[39] She left this position in May 2023.[40]

2026 Ohio gubernatorial campaign

In the summer of 2024, Acton attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where she first expressed interest in running for governor of Ohio.[41] On January 7, 2025, she announced her candidacy in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election, filing paperwork earlier that day.[41][42] She is running as a Democrat.[42]

By the end of 2025, Acton had raised over $5.3 million for her campaign.[43] In January 2026, Acton chose David Pepper as her running mate.[44] In February, she addressed the affordability of everyday life, specifically healthcare, saying it is "the rising cost of health care that is really putting people over the edge" and citing a reported 20% decline in Marketplace enrollment in Ohio.[45] She suggested tools such as Medicaid and tax credits for caregivers, but also emphasized the need for cooperation with the federal government to solve the issue.[45]

Acton was unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy in the general election.[46]

Awards and honors

Personal life

In 1989, Amy married Douglas Beech, with whom she had three children.[13][50] The couple divorced in 2008.[51]

In 2010, she married Eric Acton, a middle-school teacher and track coach, who had three children from a previous marriage.[9][52] Together, they have a blended family of six children.[7][12]

Acton resides with her family in Bexley, Ohio.[5][12] She is Jewish.[53]

References

  1. ^ "Amy Acton". Democrats Work for America. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  2. ^ Ohio, Madison MacArthur. "Democratic candidate Amy Acton wins primary election". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  3. ^ Evans, Nick (May 6, 2026). "Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy advance in Ohio election for governor • Ohio Capital Journal". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  4. ^ Zuckerman, Jake (March 22, 2020). "Health dept. issues stay-at-home order; Ohioans to shelter in place through at least April 6 • Ohio Capital Journal". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Gordon, Ken (March 13, 2020). "Amy Acton is calming leader in coronavirus crisis". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via cincinnati.com.
  6. ^ a b Ellis, Ralph (April 10, 2020). "Dr. Amy Acton, the Ohio Department of Health director, overcame a childhood in poverty to lead the state's battle against coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Miller, Jessica (March 20, 2020). "Who is Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton?". WKYC. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Boney, Stan (April 9, 2020). "Dr. Acton says she's an 'ordinary person in an extraordinary moment'". NBC4 WCMH-TV. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Amy Stearns Acton to lead Ohio Dept. of Health | The Pulse | Northeast Ohio Medical University". thepulse.neomed.edu. March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Schroeder, Kaitlin R.; Bischoff, Laura A. (March 16, 2020). "Coronavirus: Who is Dr. Amy Acton, leader of Ohio's pandemic response?". daytondailynews. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Jones, Todd (October 28, 2025). "A trusted pathfinder". Ohio State Alumni Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c Bischoff, Laura A. (February 26, 2019). "Once homeless, doctor now to lead Ohio Health Department". daytondailynews. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Stirland, Sarah Lai (March 3, 2008). "Inside Obama's Surging Net-Roots Campaign". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "The US governor who saw it coming early". BBC News. April 1, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Kasler, Karen (February 27, 2019). "First Woman Appointed To Lead Ohio Department Of Health". Ohio Public Radio. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Ohio Public Radio (February 27, 2019). "DeWine Appoints First Female ODH Director". www.wcbe.org. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  17. ^ Ludlow, Randy; Norwood, Candice (February 28, 2019). "Once Homeless, Doctor Will Now Lead Ohio Health Department". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via www.governing.com.
  18. ^ a b Sullivan, Peter (March 12, 2020). "Ohio health official estimates 100,000 people in state have coronavirus". The Hill. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  19. ^ Conradis, Brandon (March 15, 2020). "Illinois, Ohio closing all bars, restaurants in response to coronavirus". The Hill. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  20. ^ Bedo, Stephanie (March 13, 2020). "100k estimated to have virus in US state". The Daily Chronicle. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  21. ^ Horn, Dan (March 20, 2020) [Originally published March 13, 2020]. "'It doesn't seem real': What happens when coronavirus puts the world on lockdown". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Coronavirus: Health director orders polls closed for primary election, citing emergency". WHIO-TV. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  23. ^ Goulding, Gage (April 5, 2020). "Ohio residents will cast their vote in the primary election with an absentee ballot". WTOV-TV. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  24. ^ a b c Cass, Andrew (July 15, 2021) [Originally published July 6, 2020]. "Ohio officials appealing grant of preliminary injunction in gym lawsuit". The News-Herald. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  25. ^ Acton, Amy (May 22, 2020). "Director's Order that Reopens Gyms, Dance Instruction Studios, and Other Personal Fitness Venues, with Exceptions" (PDF). Ohio Department of Health. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  26. ^ Rock House Fitness, Inc. v. Himes, 245 (Ohio App. 2021).
  27. ^ Justice, Camryn (May 3, 2020). "Small group of protesters gather in Dr. Amy Acton's neighborhood". WEWS. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  28. ^ Borchardt, Jackie; Balmert, Jessie. "First came the pandemic, then came the politics: Why Amy Acton quit". The Enquirer. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  29. ^ Staver, Anna (May 20, 2020). "Ohio Senate unanimously votes down House proposal to slash Dr. Amy Acton's authority". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via cincinnati.com.
  30. ^ a b Williams, Paige (November 1, 2020). "How America Can Avoid Dual Cataclysms". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  31. ^ Mamawsporchnpolitics; Acton, Dr Amy (December 13, 2025). "She Didn't Quit. She Took a Stand". Lisa Parker. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  32. ^ a b Deliso, Meredith (June 11, 2020). "Amy Acton, Ohio's embattled health director, resigns amid COVID-19 crisis". ABC News. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  33. ^ Mamawsporchnpolitics; Acton, Dr Amy (December 13, 2025). "She Didn't Quit. She Took a Stand". Lisa Parker. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  34. ^ Evans, Nick; Pfleger, Paige (August 4, 2020). "Coronavirus In Ohio: Amy Acton Resigns As Governor's Chief Health Advisor". WOSU Radio. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  35. ^ Dosani, Sanya; Westbrook, Adam (May 5, 2020). "The Leader We Wish We All Had".
  36. ^ "Dr. Amy Acton breaks her silence about stepping down as Ohio's health director". NBC4 WCMH-TV. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  37. ^ Borchardt, Jackie (February 4, 2021). "Amy Acton steps down from Columbus Foundation to consider U.S. Senate run". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  38. ^ Koehn, Amanda (April 7, 2021) [Originally published April 6, 2021]. "Acton opts not to enter Senate race". Cleveland Jewish News. Cleveland Jewish Publishing Company. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  39. ^ Ferenchik, Mark (May 5, 2022). "'Ultimate public health project:' Dr. Amy Acton looks to connect Franklin parks, waterways". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  40. ^ Ferenchik, Mark (May 9, 2023). "Amy Acton leaves as president and CEO of RAPID 5 parks and trails group in Franklin County". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  41. ^ a b "Amy Acton, former health director, to run for Ohio governor as Democrat". The Statehouse News Bureau. January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  42. ^ a b "Dr. Amy Acton, who helped lead Ohio's early pandemic response, joins 2026 governor's race". AP News. January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  43. ^ Tobias, Andrew (January 30, 2026). "Amy Acton fundraising surges as Democratic rivals exit". Signal Ohio. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  44. ^ Mueller, Julia (January 7, 2026). "Ramaswamy, Acton pick running mates in Ohio governor race". The Hill. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ a b Evans, Nick (February 12, 2026). "Ohio Democratic governor candidate Amy Acton makes pitch for addressing health care costs • Ohio Capital Journal". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  46. ^ "Ohio Governor Primary Election 2026 Live Results". NBC News. May 5, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  47. ^ Filby, Max (June 14, 2020). "As Ohio health director, Dr. Amy Acton went from unknown to icon during coronavirus pandemic". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  48. ^ "Celebrating COVID Courage". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  49. ^ "Meet USA TODAY's Women of the Year". USA Today. March 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  50. ^ "GERALD STEARNS Obituary (1938 - 2015) - Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Review-Journal". Legacy.com. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  51. ^ Rowland, Darrel. "Fact check: Ex-Ohio health director Amy Acton has no ties to abortion charities, clinic". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  52. ^ "Exclusive | Put me in, coach! Ohio Dem candidate's sprint to marry her son's cross country coach five months after his divorce". March 28, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  53. ^ Kaufman, Jane (April 10, 2020). "Dr. Amy Acton says virtual seder was 'healing' in a time of COVID-19". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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