Former Ohio health director Amy Acton says she's considering a run for governor in 2026.

Mike DeWine in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic made her something of a folk hero and role model for Ohio girls. Kasich has said he won't run, but Johnson warned Kasich would try to get an “elitist” elected to the seat. AdFormer Treasurer Kevin Boyce and state House Democratic leader Rep. Emilia Sykes, who both are Black, are among other potential Democratic contenders. Acton’s political experience is limited, and involves volunteering for former President Barack Obama’s 2008 Democratic primary campaign in Ohio. Cranley said the emerging prospect of a strong Democratic battle for the Senate seat is good news for other statewide candidates.

Acton has resigned as Ohio's health director, Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday, June 11, 2020, capping a contentious few months as the target of frustrations during the coronavirus pandemic that included gun-carrying critics showing up at her home. Dr. Amy Acton played a highly public role in Ohios early and aggressive fight against the coronavirus, transcending the confines of the laboratory to appear daily on television screens during Gov. Within a week, and on the advice of Acton, a former public health professor and researcher, he became the first governor to shut down schools statewide. The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, which represented Vicki Brearley, owner of the National Road Diner, had previously sought the cases dismissal, arguing that criminalizing conduct based only on the orders of the state health director was unconstitutional.