Acton and Ramaswamy set for November showdown in Ohio
Acton and Ramaswamy contest Ohio's competitive 2026 gubernatorial election.
Event / Politics
Ohio Gubernatorial Election 2026
Coverage of the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race, including candidate campaigns, incidents, and developments.
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5 articles0 articles
2026-09-07 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 7 Sept, 00:07 UTC
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What happened
Amy Acton faces Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio gubernatorial race
Democratic candidate Amy Acton, the state's former public health director, is facing Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in the November 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election. Ramaswamy has leveraged national name recognition, tech industry connections, and an alliance with President Donald Trump into record fundraising. The race is one of the most high-profile contests of 2026 with six weeks remaining until the election.
Federal political committees spend record security expenses during 2023-24 campaign cycle
Federal political committees spent more than $40 million on security expenses during the 2023-24 campaign cycle, the most recent period for which data is publicly available, according to a report released in April 2026 by the Public Service Alliance, a nonpartisan group focusing on security for public officials.
Ohio governor and political figures condemn attack on gubernatorial candidate
Republican Governor Mike DeWine stated that violence or threats at political events are unacceptable. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign, Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted, and Acton's campaign all issued statements condemning the incident and emphasizing the need for safe political environments.
Armed man charged toward Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at campaign event
Patrick Havas, 38, forced his way through a crowd at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio on Sunday, knocking over multiple audience members as he moved toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, the state's former public health director. Havas was armed with a taser and two pistols but no weapons were brandished or removed from holsters. He was arrested and booked on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault.
United States experiences continued rise in political violence
The attack on Amy Acton is part of a documented trend of political violence in the United States over the past decade, including a 2017 shooting at a Republican congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia; a 2022 hammer assault on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband in California; assassination attempts on President Donald Trump in 2024 at a Pennsylvania rally and in April 2026 at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner; and fatal shootings in 2025 of a Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah.
Ohio Highway Patrol reviewing incident for targeted threat assessment
The Ohio State Highway Patrol, which provided security detail for Amy Acton, is reviewing whether the episode constituted a targeted threat. Sheriff's detectives continue investigating the incident.
Multiple people injured when armed man knocked them down
Two older adults were knocked to the ground when Havas forced his way through the crowd at the Canfield Fair. Campaign officials indicated that multiple people were injured in the incident.
Suspect carried two handguns and brass knuckles but did not display weapons
Deputies recovered two handguns and a set of brass knuckles from Patrick Havas after taking him into custody at the Canfield Fair. None of the weapons were removed from their holsters or displayed during the confrontation, according to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office.
Suspect charged with two counts of assault and disorderly conduct
Patrick Havas was expected to face two counts of assault and a single count of disorderly conduct following the incident at the Canfield Fair. He was arrested and booked into Mahoning County Jail.
Armed man arrested after lunging at Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee
An armed man, identified as 38-year-old Patrick Havas, charged toward Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, at the Canfield Fair around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday. Havas knocked down several people, including two older adults, while forcing his way through a crowd gathered near the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent where Acton was appearing. Acton was unharmed in the incident.
Armed individual lunged at Amy Acton during Canfield Fair campaign stop
An armed individual lunged at Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton during a visit to the Canfield Fair in Mahoning County on Sunday. The suspect knocked campaign volunteers to the ground. Law enforcement responded swiftly and took the suspect into custody. Multiple people were injured in the incident, though Acton herself was not injured. The suspect was allegedly armed with multiple weapons.
Ohio gubernatorial race features Acton versus Ramaswamy in closely watched November election
Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy are competing in Ohio's gubernatorial race to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine. The race is among the nation's most closely watched gubernatorial contests. Ramaswamy has secured record fundraising backed by his national recognition and alliance with President Donald Trump. Acton, a physician, gained prominence as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, a record that has become a central campaign issue.
Vivek Ramaswamy condemns attack on Democratic opponent Amy Acton
Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy condemned the attack on Democratic candidate Amy Acton, stating that candidates should be able to meet with voters without threats or violence. Ramaswamy's campaign communications director Connie Luck called the incident completely unacceptable and said it has no place in politics.
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2 alternative perspectives
Political violence surge prompts record security spending in campaigns
Rising political violence drives record campaign security spending in 2023-24 cycle.
Political leaders unite against attack on Democratic candidate Acton
Ohio political figures unite to condemn armed attack on gubernatorial candidate Acton.
Security Review Underway After Canfield Campaign Incident
Authorities investigating security breach after armed suspect reached campaign event.
Security Incident at Acton Campaign Event Draws Ramaswamy Condemnation
Armed individual attacked Democratic candidate Acton; Republican opponent Ramaswamy condemned the incident.