Armed man rushes at Democratic Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton

A man carrying two firearms and a brass knuckle weapon rushed toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton during a campaign event in Canfield, prompting her security team to intervene.

Police identified the suspect as 38-year-old Patrick Havas. He allegedly stormed into the tent where Acton was speaking and tried to reach her. The security team stopped him in time, but his push caused two older people to fall. One reportedly hit their head on a table.

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This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. I will always speak out against chaos, hatred and violence intended to turn us against each other.

Acton, who is also a doctor, went to the injured people and provided the necessary care before her security team pulled her away from the event. Police seized the weapons, although the suspect did not use them. He faces charges for attacking the politician and disrupting public order.

Acton thanked law enforcement for intervening. “This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. I will always speak out against chaos, hatred and violence intended to turn us against each other,” she said.

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strong

Democratic Senator Mark Kelly called Acton a strong woman and said that “violence must have no place in our community.” Kelly has a personal connection to political violence: his wife, former politician Gabby Giffords, suffered life-threatening injuries in a 2011 assassination attempt during a meeting with voters.

Acton plans to continue her campaign. In November, she will face Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who also ran for president in the 2024 election and helped lead the cost-cutting department DOGE.

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violence must have no place in our community.