By Deba Uwadiae, with additional reporting by Okon Ekpenyong and Taiwo Akinlami

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has acknowledged former Ohio Director of Health Dr Amy Acton as the first Ohioan to formally indicate interest in running for the Ohio State Governorship election in 2026, saying that more are expected to join.

Dr. Amy Acton who recently announced to run as a Democrat for the state’s number one position served as Ohio Director of Health under Governor Mike DeWine (R) leading the state through the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dr Amy Acton was the first person I guess to be in the race. Also, Attorney General Dave Yost is talking about being in the race also,” Governor Mike DeWine told New Americans magazine.

“This is a big race. It is very important who the next governor is. My guess is we will have a lot of people in the next few months who will indicate they are in fact running for Governor.”

Dr Acton told Dispatch Newspapers that “I’m running for governor because I don’t want to look the other way when Ohioans are struggling,”

“By almost every measure, our state has been going in the wrong direction, and I think we all know it’s time for a change.”

Dr. Amy Acton was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to Ohio’s top public health position and was the first woman physician to ever hold the position. As Director, she passed Tobacco-21, anti-vaping policies, and helped save countless lives by leading the Covid response for 11.7 million Ohioans.

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