In Ohio, the gubernatorial campaign centers on COVID-19 — STAT News

In the U.S. state of Ohio, the campaign for governor between Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is focused on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of medical care and trust in science, STAT News reports.

The pandemic at the center of the campaign

Acton is a physician who gained nationwide prominence in 2020, when she served as Ohio’s health director and led the state’s active response to the pandemic. She supports the decisions made at the time but now emphasizes the cost and affordability of medical services.

Ramaswamy is the founder and former CEO of the biotechnology company Roivant. He took part in the 2024 presidential race and built political name recognition, including by criticizing the authorities’ actions during the pandemic. He has also made that criticism one of the central themes of his gubernatorial campaign.

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Incident at a campaign event

In early September, Acton was unable to speak to supporters at a Labor Day festival in the city of Lorain. According to the outlet, earlier that same day at another campaign event in Canfield, a man carrying two handguns, brass knuckles and a stun gun walked toward her while shouting her name and knocked down an elderly couple among those present.

The man, whom STAT News identifies as Patrick Havas, was charged, including with assault. He pleaded not guilty.

Health insurance

According to STAT News, the number of people enrolled in health insurance programs under the Affordable Care Act in Ohio fell by one-third over the past year after federal subsidies expired. This is the largest decline among all U.S. states.