Amy Acton

Amy Acton grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and worked her way through college and medical school. After medical school she completed a pediatrics residency, trained at Children's Hospital and Ohio State University in pediatrics and preventive medicine, and earned a master's degree in public health. She directed Project L.O.V.E., a children's preventive health partnership in the Columbus area, joined the Ohio State University faculty in maternal and child health and global public health, and led community health work at the Columbus Foundation. Governor Mike DeWine named her Director of the Ohio Department of Health in February 2019, and she resigned in June 2020. She then returned to the Columbus Foundation, where she helped found the Center for Human Kindness, and helped launch the nonprofit Rapid 5. She filed to run for governor on January 7, 2025, and her running mate for lieutenant governor is David Pepper. She ran unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary and faces Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy on November 3.