Amy Acton

Amy Leigh Acton is an American physician and researcher who is currently running for governor of Ohio. Acton previously served as the director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020. She led Ohio's COVID-19 pandemic response and accompanied Governor DeWine during his daily afternoon press conferences throughout the spring of 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic response, Amy Acton supported temporarily closing bars and restaurants, limiting large gatherings, and closing K-12 schools statewide to combat COVID-19. Prior to and immediately after serving as director of the Ohio Department of Health, she worked at the Columbus Foundation. She left her position at the foundation upon announcing her candidacy for the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election.