As the race for Ohio’s next governor continues, a campaign ad shared by Republican Vivek Ramaswamy accuses Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton of canceling Ohio’s March 2020 primary election, a claim Gov. Mike DeWine says is inaccurate.
In the post, Ramaswamy said Acton, the former Ohio health director, was an unelected official who shut down in-person voting in March 2020 and “defied a judge’s order to stop an election.” He also accused her of being part of a “radical liberal agenda.” DeWine, who endorsed Ramaswamy in January, has called out the ad’s accusation as inaccurate.
Here’s what to know about the ad and why the primary was delayed in 2020.
Ramaswamy ad blames Acton for ‘shutting down polls’ in 2020 primary. What really happened
DeWine on March 16, 2020, (the day before the scheduled March 17 primary) announced that in-person voting would not proceed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Health Director, Acton declared a health emergency to prevent polls from opening, citing the risk to voters and poll workers, many of them elderly, according to Associated Press reporting at the time.
The publication added that a state court judge initially declined to stop the election. The DeWine administration then used public health powers to close polling places due to health risks. The primary was later completed largely by mail-in voting through April 28, 2020, Scripps reported.
“During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at a unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus, DeWine said in a statement. “As such, Health Director Dr. Amy Acton will order the polls closed as a health emergency. While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State Frank LaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.”
DeWine debunks Ramaswamy ad accusing Acton of stopping 2020 primary
Gov. DeWine called the ad inaccurate and says that it was him, not Acton, who decided to shut down in‑person voting.
“In government this happens all the time. Do you think a member of the president’s cabinet would issue this kind of order without his approval?” DeWine told NBC4. “I told her to issue the health order. The decision was mine,” he added. “I ultimately thought if I did not make that decision people were going to die.”
Ramaswamy’s running mate and Ohio Senate President Rob McColley defended the ad even as DeWine disputed it, TiffinOhio reports. “I stand behind it,” he told NBC4. “She violated her constitutional and statutory authority.”
As the gubernatorial race continues, a recent poll from Bowling Green State University shows the Ohio governor’s race between Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton is a virtual tie.
When is the 2026 primary election in Ohio?
Ohio’s primary election is Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Early in-person and absentee voting for the primary began Tuesday, April 7.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ramaswamy ad blames Acton for delayed 2020 primary. Here’s the truth
Reporting by Alex Perry, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
