Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, remained unharmed after an armed man lunged toward her at the Canfield Fair on Sunday, though multiple attendees were injured in the incident. Patrick Havas, 38, of Canfield, forced his way through a crowd at the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s tent around 2:30 p.m., knocking over fairgoers as he pushed toward Acton while she was speaking, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Law enforcement detained Havas and discovered he was carrying two pistols and a Taser. He was taken to the Mahoning County Jail and booked on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault. The Canfield Fair allows firearms except inside marked buildings, according to USA Today.
Among those injured was an elderly man described as being in his 80s. Former U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, a Democratic candidate for the Ohio House who witnessed the incident, said Havas “knocked down quite a few people in front of her.” Campbell City Council member Mary Janek told USA Today that Acton remained composed during the incident, telling those gathered, “We are sick of the hatred.”
Acton’s campaign released a statement saying she and her husband Eric were “grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured.” The campaign added: “This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. Dr. Acton will always stand up to chaos, hate, and vitriol that pits us against one another.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, under whom Acton previously served as health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, spoke with her after the incident. “She said to share with Ohioans that she is OK,” DeWine said in a statement. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable.” Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign also condemned the incident, with spokesperson Connie Luck saying: “Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence. What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics.”
Acton is running in a tight race against Ramaswamy for Ohio governor in November 2026. Recent polling shows the race remains competitive, with both candidates competing for voter support in a state where neither has previously held elected office. Acton, a physician and former Ohio Department of Health director, has drawn on her pandemic response experience in her campaign messaging.
The incident reflects broader concerns about political violence in the United States. According to a PBS report from April 2026, federal political committees spent more than $40 million on security expenses during the 2023-24 campaign cycle—the highest levels in recent years. The report noted that threats against elected officials and candidates have risen significantly, with the U.S. Capitol Police investigating 14,938 threat assessment cases in 2025, approximately 58 percent more than in 2024, according to a Samaritan Protective Services analysis.
Chris Anderson, chair of the Mahoning County Democratic Party, called the incident “reprehensible” and said it “should be condemned by leaders on all sides of the aisle.” Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican, said: “There is no place for this kind of behavior, and it must never be tolerated.” Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, stated: “Connie and I are grateful that Dr. Acton and all involved are safe, and we thank the Ohio law enforcement officers for their quick and professional response.”
Sources
- USA Today — detailed account of the incident, charges against Havas, injuries to fairgoers, and statements from political leaders
- Ohio State Highway Patrol — official statement on arrest, weapons found, and charges
- NBC News — confirmation of arrest details and race context
- PBS NewsHour — security spending data for 2023-24 campaign cycle
- Samaritan Protective Services — threat assessment statistics for 2025
- Fox 8 Cleveland — weapons and charges details
- Newsweek — weapons inventory (two pistols and Taser)
