UC Health honors Amy Acton as winner of MLK 2021 Humanitarian Award
Dr. Acton was selected by UC Health as the winner of the 2021 MLK Humanitarian Award for her “courageous leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Provided by UC Health, Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO – Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is considering running for governor in 2026.
Republican Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost are already publicly campaigning for governor to replace Governor Mike DeWine, whose term ends in 2026. But the picture is less clear among the Democratic candidates.
Acton served as DeWine’s health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning praise from many Ohioans but scorn from others.
Three years later, Acton is still involved in politics. This week she is attending the Democratic National Convention. She has co-hosted fundraisers for Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and has another one coming up soon with “Veep” actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
At the party’s convention on Tuesday, Acton said she was considering a political run of her own. “Obviously, I’ve learned a lot about the governorship,” Acton told the USA TODAY Network’s Ohio Bureau. “I’m always just focused on how I can best help. Of course, I’m not a politician. I’ve always joked that I’m the Ted Lasso of politics.”
Acton seriously considered running for the U.S. Senate in the 2022 presidential race, but ultimately decided against it. “I’m sure she will play a role in public service in the future,” Brown said at the time.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Walters has not yet commented on the 2026 gubernatorial election, but spoke positively about Acton.
“Amy was an incredible leader,” Walters said. “She has this personality that embraced and comforted so many people in Ohio during a really difficult time.”
Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the Ohio Bureau of the USA TODAY Network, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
