Dr. Amy Acton Defends Pandemic Response as Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate

Dr. Amy Acton, a Democratic candidate for governor in Ohio and former health director, stood by her actions during the pandemic alongside the state’s Republican governor.

In an interview with Amber Duke, a senior editor, Dr. Acton addressed criticisms from the Ohio community regarding their pandemic response. Duke pointed out the backlash surrounding school closures at the end of the 2020 school year, citing attacks from Vivek Ramaswamy, who accused Acton of being overly strict.

Acton emphasized that she and Governor Mike DeWine prioritized saving lives and reopening the state as early as feasible. “I’m proud of the leadership we showed in Ohio,” she stated. “I have a fantastic rapport with Ohioans, and I worked alongside Republican governors to help save lives, not to be painted as ‘Dr. Fauci of Ohio’.”

When referencing Ramaswamy’s remarks calling her a “knockoff” of Anthony Fauci, she shared a broader perspective on how these decisions have fostered strong connections among Ohioans across party lines.

DeWine took the significant step of closing schools statewide based on Acton’s advice in March 2020, marking Ohio as the first state to do so. This closure order began on March 12 and was extended on multiple occasions. Acton later issued a directive to keep schools closed until June 30.

Duke continued to question Acton’s decision, pointing out that by 2025, extensive research highlighted the negative impacts of school closures on children, while other states had allowed in-person learning.

Acton rejected the idea that she made a mistake, defending her actions as consistent with the “Pandemic Playbook.” She acknowledged that, at the pandemic’s outset, the situation was precarious and closure was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of staff and students alike.

She continued to stress that their primary aim was to facilitate student learning, noting the collaborative efforts from the Republican governor and schools throughout Ohio during those challenging times.

Reflecting on the beginning of the pandemic, she recognized the complexity of the decisions made, asserting that they ultimately reopened schools ahead of many other states.

DeWine confirmed in early June that Ohio schools would reopen for the fall semester. Acton’s tenure as health director ended amid backlash and legal challenges concerning her authority in the state’s response.