Armed Individual Confronts Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Amy Acton at Fair

Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for governor of Ohio, was confronted by an armed individual at the Canfield Fair on September 6, 2026. According to her campaign spokesperson, an individual identified as Patrick Havas, 38, lunged at Acton, resulting in injuries to several attendees. The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office reported that Havas was arrested following the incident, which occurred around 2:30 PM. Acton, a physician, was unharmed and remained at the scene to assist the injured. The extent of the injuries to others is currently unknown. Addie Bullock, a spokesperson for Acton’s campaign, expressed gratitude for law enforcement's quick response and stated that Acton and her husband are praying for the recovery of those injured. Bullock condemned the violence, asserting that it has no place in Ohio. Havas approached Acton while recording with a cellphone and began pushing through the crowd, prompting Acton's security detail, comprised of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, to intervene. During the arrest, law enforcement recovered two handguns, brass knuckles, and a Taser from Havas, who did not brandish the weapons. He has been charged with disorderly conduct and two counts of assault. The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the incident. Acton is running against Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy in the upcoming November election to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine. Ramaswamy's spokesperson condemned the incident, stating that candidates should not face threats or violence while engaging with voters. Governor DeWine expressed gratitude that Acton was unharmed and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Republican Senator Jon Husted also condemned the attempted attack, emphasizing the need for zero tolerance of such behavior in political events. Mahoning County Democratic Party Chair Christopher Anderson condemned the incident and thanked law enforcement for their swift action.