The Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters endorsed Amy Acton’s Democratic campaign for Ohio governor on August 3, throwing its support behind the former state health director as she faces Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the general election on November 3, 2026.
The OAPFF, which represents over 14,000 full-time professional firefighters and retirees from more than 300 locals across Ohio, announced the endorsement at a campaign event in Cincinnati. Jon Harvey, president of the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, said the union is “enthusiastically endorsing” Acton because she is “the only candidate in this race who will protect unions in Ohio, stand up for working people, and make life more affordable for everyone.”
Acton accepted the endorsement by pledging to protect public safety officers and their families. “I am committed to standing up and advocating for our public safety officers, keeping right-to-work laws out of our state, and lowering costs for working families,” she said. “I will fight to build an Ohio where working people don’t just get by, but thrive.”
The firefighters’ endorsement adds to a growing list of labor union support for Acton’s campaign. She has been backed by the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the United Auto Workers, the Ohio Nurses Association, the United Steelworkers District 1, and multiple building and construction trades councils across the state, among others. This labor coalition represents a significant political asset in a state where union membership has historically played an influential role in Democratic campaigns.
Acton, who grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, served as director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020 under Republican Governor Mike DeWine. She became a prominent public figure during Ohio’s early COVID-19 pandemic response, and firefighters and other first responders emphasized that her leadership during that crisis saved lives. Steve Stein, director of government affairs for the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, said Acton’s pandemic response represented “proven leadership” and that decisions made by her, Governor DeWine, and emergency responders “are not partisan. Those are decisions about safety.”
Acton won the Democratic primary uncontested in May 2026 and will face Ramaswamy, who won the Republican primary with 82.5% of the vote in July. The race comes as Ohio’s governor’s office opens due to term limits on current Governor Mike DeWine. With less than 100 days until the general election, both candidates are securing endorsements from organized labor, though the groups backing each candidate differ in composition—Acton has drawn strong support from public-sector and construction unions, while Ramaswamy has secured endorsements from business groups including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce PAC and law enforcement unions such as the Fraternal Order of Police.
Sources
- WLWT Cincinnati — Coverage of the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters endorsement of Acton on August 3, 2026, including quotes from Acton and union officials about pandemic response and union protection
- Acton for Governor campaign — Official press release announcing the OAPFF endorsement, detailing the size of the firefighters union (14,000+ members across 300+ locals) and listing other labor endorsements Acton has received
- Ballotpedia — Information on the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election, candidate backgrounds, and union endorsements
- NBC4i Columbus — Reporting on labor union endorsement patterns in Ohio’s 2026 races
- Columbus Dispatch — Background on Acton’s career history and tenure as state health director
