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Armed Man Attacks Ohio Democratic Candidate Amy Acton at Campaign Stop
Confirmed
In Short: An armed assailant injured several people, including campaign volunteers, at a campaign event for Ohio Democratic candidate Amy Acton, according to reports.
An armed man attacked Democratic candidate Amy Acton during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair, injuring several people, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News.
The suspect, Patrick Havas, 38, was arrested with multiple weapons after knocking volunteers to the ground, according to a statement from the Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman, Chris Anderson.
Acton was unharmed, but multiple people were hurt, according to campaign officials. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine condemned the attack, stating that Ohio police responded quickly to the incident.
The suspect, identified as Patrick Havas, 38, of Canfield, Ohio, aggressively shoved his way through the crowd toward Acton while holding a cell phone up, according to Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene. Acton's security detail, made up of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, was able to stop him and take him into custody.
The man had two pistols and brass knuckles on him, all of which are legal to carry in Ohio, according to Greene. Wayne Penny Jr., a Democratic candidate for Ohio's 59th State House District, said that hecklers had gathered at the Democratic Party's tent when one of them 'bum-rushed through the crowd' in Acton's direction.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The individual lunged at Acton as she was speaking on Sunday.
- Federal political committees spent more than $40m on security during the 2023–2024 campaign cycle, according to the most recent publicly available data cited by the nonpartisan group Public Service Alliance.
- Campaigns are entering the final six weeks before the election on November 3.
- Acton was "grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured. This kind of violence has no place in Ohio. Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another," said Addie Bullock, communications director for the campaign.
- Acton is facing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who has parlayed his national name recognition, tech industry connections and alliance with President Donald Trump into a record fundraising haul that he is tapping for advertising spots aimed at the November election.