Acton vs. Ramaswamy Tests Ohio's Covid-Era Politics — SkimNews
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- Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee and former Ohio director of public health who led the state's aggressive 2020 Covid-19 response, is running on a platform of health care affordability and access.
- Vivek Ramaswamy, her Republican opponent and the billionaire founder and former CEO of biotech firm Roivant, has built his campaign around accusations that the government overreached during the pandemic — a stance that defined his 2024 presidential bid.
- At a Canfield campaign event, Patrick Havas — carrying two handguns, brass knuckles, and a Taser — barreled toward Acton while yelling her name and knocked over an elderly couple; he has pleaded not guilty to charges including assault.
- ACA enrollment in Ohio fell by one-third in the past year after federal subsidies expired — the steepest decline of any state — giving Acton's affordability message a concrete, immediate hook.
- Acton stands by her pandemic decisions but is betting Ohioans are ready to move past Covid debates and focus on health costs instead.
- STAT attended rallies for both candidates on the same day in August to compare how their health-care messages are resonating with Ohio voters.
Why it matters: The Ohio race crystallizes whether voters reward or reject Acton's pandemic legacy now that federal health subsidies have lapsed — ACA enrollment dropped one-third, the steepest of any state. A campaign-event attack on Acton shows the volatility of health politics in a Covid-defined race with national implications.
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