DeWine says that Acton was not responsible for closing the polls in 2020, despite statements at the time
Gov. Mike DeWine appears to be covering for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, seemingly trying to tamp down criticism of her role in closing the state government in 2020 and postponing a primary election, even after a judge denied the request.
A new ad from Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says that Acton, the director of the Ohio Department of Health at the time, “called off Ohio’s election at the last minute, defying a judge’s orders and abusing her power,” according to NBC 4. DeWine denounced the ad, prompting many, including the governor’s fellow Republicans, to clap back for his apparent revisionist history.
“Amy Acton issued the order to cancel the 2020 primary election, flagrantly violating a court ruling in the process. That’s a fact,” state Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, wrote on X. “‘She was a puppet in a white lab coat who didn’t actually make any decisions’ is not a persuasive ‘defense’ of her COVID record.”
1. Amy Acton issued the order to cancel the 2020 primary election, flagrantly violating a court ruling in the process. That’s a fact.
2. “She was a puppet in a white lab coat who didn’t actually make any decisions” is not a persuasive “defense” of her COVID record. https://t.co/SavEs4dtRz
— Brian Stewart (@BrianStewartOH) April 17, 2026
Key evidence of Acton’s role is an order Acton signed on March 16, and a statement DeWine released that same day announcing that Acton would order polls closed due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“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 [an] unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus,” DeWine said in the statement. “As such, Health Director Dr. Amy Acton will order the polls closed as a health emergency.”
Acton issued the order despite a judge’s denial of DeWine’s bid to postpone Tuesday’s election to June 2 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Now, DeWine is telling Ohioans that Acton was not responsible for the actions she took in 2020.
Acton and DeWine could clarify their positions. However, neither responded to requests from Ohio.News for comment.
“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?” he told NBC 4. “I told her to issue the health order. The decision was mine.”
Ramaswamy’s running mate, state Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, told NBC 4 that he “stands behind” the ad, adding that Acton “violated her constitutional and statutory authority.” The ad’s claims appear to be supported by press releases, documents, and statements on X.
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye declined to order the postponement of Ohio’s election, the news source reported.
“There are too many factors to balance in this uncharted territory to say that we ought to take it away from the legislature and elected statewide officials, and throw it to a common pleas court judge in Columbus with 12 hours to go to the election,” Frye said, according to NBC 4.
However, that didn’t stop Acton from canceling the primary election anyway, according to the press release and Acton’s order. The move prompted Democrats at the time to sue over the delay, and David Pepper, the party’s chairman and Acton’s current running mate, said in a statement, “This primary election must move forward.”
READ IT: Director’s Order Closure of the Polling Locations
In the wake of the legal action, DeWine doubled down, saying in a joint statement with Secretary of State Frank LaRose that “the actions taken by Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton saved Ohio lives.”
Some Ohio House Republicans at the time revolted against Acton, introducing and passing a bill to strip Acton of the power to issue such orders, according to Cleveland.com. The Ohio Senate, however, unanimously voted down the proposal to slash Acton’s authority, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
Conservatives in Ohio pointed out that Acton was responsible for canceling the 2020 primary election, citing photos from the press conference in which Acton and other officials announced the cancellation.
Jack Windsor of The Ohio Press Network wrote an open letter to DeWine, highlighting Acton’s involvement and asking for a response. However, Windsor later wrote in X that DeWine never responded to his letter.
“Why are you defending Dr. Acton’s actions in this manner when the statutory authority, the signature on the order, and the contemporaneous public record all attribute the decision to the Health Director exercising powers granted directly to her by state law?” he wrote.
