Full Breakdown
Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Amy Acton Targeted in Armed Attack at Canfield Fair
9/9/2026, 12:45:07 AM
Attack at the Canfield Fair
On Sunday, an armed individual entered the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio, and lunged toward Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Act Acton. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Patrick Havas of Canfield, pushed through the crowd, knocking two older adults to the ground; one struck his head on a table. Ohio State Highway Patrol and Mahoning County Sheriff’s officers subdued Havas, recovered two firearms and a pair of brass knuckles, and placed him in custody. He faces two assault counts and one disorderly-conduct charge. Dr. Acton was not injured, but several volunteers and attendees required medical attention.
Background on Amy Acton and the 2026 Ohio Race
Dr. Acton served as director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2022, appointed by Governor Mike DeWine. In 2026 she is the Democratic candidate for governor, challenging Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has national name recognition and former President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Official Statements & Responses
- Mahoning County Democratic Party chair Chris Anderson described the suspect’s arrest with “multiple weapons” after volunteers were knocked down.
- Connie Luck, communications director for Ramaswamy’s campaign, called the incident “completely unacceptable.”
- Republican State Senator John Husted posted on X that he and his wife were “disturbed” by the attempted attack and praised law-enforcement’s quick response.
- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged Ramaswamy and his allies to tone down rhetoric, saying the incident highlighted dangerous political discourse.
- Governor Mike DeWine thanked law-enforcement, noted that Dr. Acton was unharmed, and said violence at public events “is always unacceptable.”
- Senator Mark Kelly linked the attack to broader concerns about political violence, referencing his own experience with an assassination attempt on his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
Data & Statistics
- Weapons recovered: two firearms and a pair of brass knuckles.
- Charges pending: two assault counts and one disorderly-conduct count against Havas.
- Security spending: Federal political committees spent more than $40 million on security-related expenses during the 2023-24 campaign cycle, according to a Public Service Alliance report released in April.
Why It Matters
The assault adds to a decade-long rise in political violence, including the 2017 shooting at a Republican congressional baseball practice, the 2022 hammer attack on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, the 2024 assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, and the 2025 killings of a Minnesota state lawmaker and commentator Charlie Kirk. The incident underscores heightened security concerns for candidates and has prompted calls from both parties for more civil political rhetoric.
