Ohio political strategist Mehek Cooke argues that the record of former health director Amy Acton, rather than the recent controversial advertisement featuring her estranged mother, determines the outcome of the gubernatorial race. Cooke told Fox News Digital that voters should look past the ad and focus on who is fit to govern the state. "We clearly can't trust Amy Acton, and she has a record of that," Cooke said.
The ad, released by Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, featured Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, questioning Acton's fitness for office. Acton responded by stating she was removed from her mother's custody after her stepfather was accused of sexual abuse. The controversy drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, though President Donald Trump defended Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy has defended the ad and plans to spend millions running it over the next two weeks.
Cooke points to Acton's tenure as health director under Governor Mike DeWine during the early months of the pandemic. Acton signed orders that closed schools, restricted businesses, and limited mass gatherings. "At the end of the day, it was Amy Acton's signature," Cooke said. "She's the one who pushed for locking down our kids." Critics argue that Acton left her position amid pushback over the economic impact of these measures.
Transparency issues during her tenure have also drawn scrutiny. The Ohio Department of Health was sued for refusing to release facility-level COVID-19 death data, and an appeals court ruled the department violated public-records laws. While the ruling applied to the agency rather than Acton personally, opponents cite it as evidence of opacity. Additionally, in the Rock House Fitness case, a court described state actions regarding gym closures as "arbitrary, unreasonable, and oppressive," though subsequent legal changes complicated the dispute.
Behavioral allegations have also emerged. Five current and former state workers told the Washington Examiner that Acton was sometimes absent from strategy meetings and emotionally volatile. One source reported seeing her curled up on a floor before an emergency meeting, while another said she was seen crying in a bathroom. A 2019 police report regarding a domestic dispute at Acton's home has also become a campaign issue. The report noted that Acton's daughter told police that Acton had been drinking and breaking glass. Acton's campaign described the incident as a normal marital argument and denied allegations of alcohol abuse.
Cooke also highlighted Acton's comments on law enforcement. During a City Club of Cleveland forum, Acton compared agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan. Cooke argues this ties Acton to "defund the police" ideologies and demonstrates weakness on supporting law enforcement.
With 11 days until the election, Acton has not agreed to debate Ramaswamy. Cooke criticized this avoidance, stating that Acton cannot articulate her positions. "Amy will never get on stage because the truth is she doesn't know what she stands for," Cooke said. He contrasted this with Ramaswamy, whom he said actively addresses questions and explains his business background.
Fox News polling conducted before the recent ad controversy showed a tight race, with likely voters favoring Acton over Ramaswamy by 50 percent to 48 percent.