Amy Acton

Served as president and CEO of RAPID 5, a nonprofit initiative seeking to expand central Ohio residents' access to parks and waterways.

January 1, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: rapid5.org

As state health director, ordered all Ohio nursing homes to cooperate with state COVID-19 testing of residents and staff.

May 27, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: dinsmore.com

An Ohio judge ruled that Acton's continued closure of gyms was arbitrary, unreasonable, and oppressive, limiting enforcement of the order against fitness centers.

May 20, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: abcnews.com

Acton signed the Stay Safe Ohio order continuing statewide distancing, business, and public-health requirements during the COVID-19 emergency.

April 30, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: ohca.org

Issued Ohio's initial statewide stay-at-home order, effective March 23, restricting nonessential travel and business activity during the COVID-19 emergency.

March 22, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: jobsohio.com

Ordered Ohio health-care providers to postpone nonessential surgeries and procedures to preserve personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 emergency.

March 17, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: law.justia.com

Issued a statewide public-health order closing bars and restaurants to on-premises dining while allowing carryout and delivery.

March 15, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: ohioattorneygeneral.gov

Issued a statewide order prohibiting mass gatherings of more than 100 people in response to COVID-19, later tightening the limit to 50.

March 12, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: ohioattorneygeneral.gov

Declined, through her campaign, to debate Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor's race, citing the attack ads he and his allies had run.

September 2, 2026

Source: signalohio.org

Received End Citizens United's endorsement for governor.

March 27, 2026

Source: endcitizensunited.org

Received the Ohio Democratic Party's endorsement for governor, voted by its executive committee before the primary.

February 28, 2026

Source: wysu.org

Received the American Federation of Government Employees' endorsement for governor; it is the largest federal employee union.

February 26, 2026

Source: yahoo.com

Received the Ohio AFL-CIO's endorsement for governor.

February 13, 2026

Source: northshoreaflcio.org

Received former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's endorsement for governor.

December 16, 2025

Source: yahoo.com

Received EMILYs List's endorsement for governor of Ohio.

November 5, 2025

Source: emilyslist.org

Received former Ohio Gov. Dick Celeste's endorsement for governor.

September 22, 2025

Source: cwcolumbus.com

Left Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's administration on August 4, 2020, giving up the role of his chief health adviser. She had resigned as state health director in June 2020 and stayed on as an adviser, then returned to nonprofit work with the Columbus Foundation.

August 4, 2020

Source: wosu.org

Acton resigned as Ohio health director while remaining temporarily as the governor's public-health adviser during the pandemic response.

June 11, 2020

Source: wosu.org

Signed the order cancelling in-person voting the day before Ohio's March 2020 primary, as state health director. Governor Mike DeWine has said several times since that closing the polls was his decision, taken after meeting her and the state's Republican and Democratic party leaders, and that a cabinet member who issues an order does so at his direction.

March 16, 2020

Source: statenews.org

Was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to lead the Ohio Department of Health and was sworn in on February 26, 2019. She was the first physician to head the agency in almost five years.

February 26, 2019

Source: wosu.org