Armed man arrested after charging toward Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton at Canfield Fair
CANFIELD, Ohio — An armed man was arrested at the Canfield Fair on Sept. 6 after authorities said he rushed toward Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, knocking over fairgoers as he pushed into a crowded political tent.
The suspect, Patrick M. Havas, 38, of Canfield, forced his way through a crowd at the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s tent and moved toward Acton, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Troopers assigned to the agency’s executive protection unit detained him quickly; Acton was not injured.
After taking Havas into custody, troopers found two pistols and a Taser in his possession, according to the patrol. The Canfield Fair allows firearms except inside marked buildings, though state troopers did not say whether the weapons were lawfully carried or whether additional charges were being considered.
Havas was taken to the Mahoning County Jail and booked on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault.
Addie Bullock, Acton’s campaign communications director, said on social media that multiple people were hurt. Former U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, a Democrat running for the Ohio House who witnessed the scene, said he saw Havas push into the tent while Acton was speaking. “He knocked down quite a few people in front of her. One was a very elderly gentleman, probably in his 80s,” Boccieri said.
Campbell City Council member Mary Janek described Acton as “poised and in control” and said she heard her tell people nearby, “We are sick of the hatred.” Janek’s husband, Tony Kelly, a Campbell City Schools board member, added: “It’s always good to have a doctor in the house, right?”
The arrest adds a volatile new element to Ohio’s closely watched governor race. Acton, a physician who became a familiar public-health figure as Ohio’s health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, is running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a billionaire entrepreneur, in a tight contest to succeed Gov. Mike DeWine. Their matchup has become one of the most prominent races of the 2026 cycle.
Mahoning County Democratic Chair Chris Anderson wrote on Facebook: “What happened at our tent today during today’s visit from Dr. Acton is reprehensible and should be condemned by leaders on all sides of the aisle.”
Bullock said Acton and her husband, Eric, were grateful for law enforcement’s swift action and were praying for those injured. “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,” Bullock said.
DeWine, who spoke with Acton after the incident, said she asked him to share with Ohioans that she was OK. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable,” DeWine said in a statement.
Republican Sen. Jon Husted said he and his wife, Tina, were disturbed by the “attempted attack” and said such behavior must never be tolerated. Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said he and his wife, Connie, were grateful that Acton and all involved were safe and thanked Ohio law enforcement for their “quick and professional response.”
Ramaswamy’s campaign released its own statement condemning the incident. “Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence,” spokesperson Connie Luck said. “What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics, and we hope that no one was hurt.”
The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of security and civility on the campaign trail as Ohio heads toward the November election.