According to NBC News, police officers in Ohio responded to a ‘domestic dispute’ in 2019 involving Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton.
At the time, Acton was the director of the state’s Department of Health.
She allegedly pulled a mirror off the wall when becoming upset because she felt her husband was antagonizing her, shattering the glass.
NBC News: Police responded to a report of a “domestic dispute” at Ohio governor candidate's home in 2019
Officers determined there was a “verbal argument” involving Amy Acton, a Democrat who was then the state's health director, and her husband.https://t.co/bgbTiIGnXk
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) April 11, 2026
NBC News has more:
She told officers she had been drinking, had taken an unknown amount of prescription drugs and was about to drive away in her car before her husband, who also told police he had been drinking, talked her out of it, the report stated.
A medic dispatched to check on Acton recommended that she go to the hospital, but Acton “refused,” according to the police report. Police determined that there was no evidence of physical violence between Acton and her husband, only a “verbal argument over her extended work hours.”
Months later, Acton would become one of Ohio’s most visible leaders as the state battled Covid, advising and appearing almost daily alongside Gov. Mike DeWine as they issued stay-at-home orders and shared the latest case numbers. Acton’s time in the spotlight brought her doting admirers, as well as vicious critics. And as a rare Democrat serving in a Republican governor’s Cabinet, she quickly became a prospect for elected office herself after resigning her post in June 2020.
Acton, 60, is likely to face Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who has been endorsed by DeWine and President Donald Trump, in the general election.
Her campaign on Friday disputed and sought to clarify several elements of the police report. Acton and her husband had returned home from dinner, where she had one drink, according to the campaign’s written response for this article. During a “verbal disagreement regarding her long work hours,” Acton “bumped into a wall hanging which fell,” the campaign said. She then went to bed and was asleep when police arrived, according to the campaign.
Ohio voters will head to the polls for the gubernatorial primary election on May 5.
However, it will almost certainly be Acton against Ramaswamy in the general election.
There are no other candidates running against Acton in the Democratic primary, while Ramaswamy is the heavy favorite to win the GOP primary.
Recent polls point to a tight race in November.
2026 Ohio Governor Poll
🔴 Ramaswamy: 45%
🔵 Amy Acton: 43%TRA | 12/3-8 | 603 LV pic.twitter.com/MvBIstoxwM
— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) December 18, 2025
WKYC noted:
After leaving government, Acton joined the Columbus Foundation as a grants director with the title “vice president for Human:Kind.” She later took on a job as director of the city of Columbus’ Project L.O.V.E., an initiative aimed at encouraging early vaccinations in children. She also served as a contributor to 3News during our “Health, Hope & Healing” series in 2023.
Acton has never held elected office, but did explore a run for the U.S. Senate in 2022.
She most recently rolled out her “ActOn Lowering Costs Affordability Agenda,” which includes a working families tax credit. Acton’s campaign says the package would feature an earned income credit that would support up to 775,000 working families, plus a child tax credit of $1,000 a year for children aged 0-6 and $500 for children aged 7-18 for families making up to $85,000 in annual income. She has also outlined plans to reduce health care costs.
Acton selected former Ohio Democratic Party chairman David Pepper as her running mate.
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