Amy Acton, the former director of Ohio's Department of Health turned Democrat gubernatorial candidate, drew fresh attention over the weekend after video clips surfaced of her speaking to supporters with what many are alleging is slurred speech and a scattered demeanor.
The clips come from Acton's campaign appearance at the Canfield Fair on Sunday, the same day she was reportedly confronted by an armed individual. Videos, like the one below, allegedly show Acton's repeatedly making exaggerated hand gestures and speaking in a slurred and inebriated manner.
Democrat Ohio Governor candidate Amy Acton accused of being ‘drunk’ after slurring her words on stage and appearing incoherent.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) September 6, 2026
“Hi everybodyyyy. Happy Labour Daaayy. Good to see everyone. It’s so good to see you all here tod—-y it’s a little warm.” pic.twitter.com/KggCzdlJfW
Allegations of alcohol use are not new to Acton as the claims are tied back to a 2019 incident at Acton's home in Bexley, Ohio. According to the police report of the incident, officers responded to a domestic dispute call where Acton admitted she had been drinking and had taken an unknown amount of prescription medication. The incident started as a verbal argument with her husband over her work hours that escalated. Acton pulled a mirror off the wall during the event, shattering the glass, but later refused the recommendation from the medic on scene that she go to the hospital. Per the report, Acton told officers she intended to drive away from her home despite her inebriation during the event but was dissuaded by her husband.
The 911 call log of the incident, recently reported on by investigative journalist and controversial social media influencer Laura Loomer, attributes Acton's own daughter as having reported to the police dispatcher on the night of the incident that "mom has been drinking and throwing things and breaking glass."
Acton's campaign has maintained that she was not intoxicated, having consumed only one drink at dinner the evening of the dispute, and that the prescription medications usage referenced in the report were for routine conditions like migraines and blood pressure. Acton has dismissed the domestic incident and called any focus on the 2019 report as being politically motivated to further lies about her alleged alcohol and drug abuse.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Founder of Roivant Sciences and Acton's Trump-endorsed opponent in November, has repeatedly criticized Acton in their hotly contested race for the Governor's seat. Following Loomer's reporting, Ramaswamy responded on X.
The real story here isn’t just about Acton, it’s also about the failure of Ohio’s mainstream press. Imagine if there were a Republican with multiple family-placed 911 calls for domestic disturbances on the candidate, across multiple different spouses, involving drinking, drugs, &… https://t.co/fDYVIXxVIb
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 14, 2026
Prominent Republicans, including Ramaswamy, have highlighted the 2019 report as well as Acton's refusal to attend debates in attack ads and social media posts that question her fitness for office.
"We pray for her," Ramaswamy said of Acton on a post to X last week, "but this isn’t someone fit to lead our state of 12 million people.”
The campaign for Ohio governor remains competitive ahead of November. Ohio has not elected a Democratic governor since 2006, and President Donald Trump won Ohio by more than 11 percent in 2024. However, the gubernatorial race is widely considered a tossup as Ramaswamy faces a growing intraparty divide. As of this publication, prediction markets marginally favor Acton to win the state's executive seat.
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