Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, was the target of an attack on Sunday during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair, her campaign said. Several people were injured when an armed assailant lunged at her.
The suspect knocked volunteers to the ground before being arrested. He was “discovered to have weapons,” Mahoning county Democratic party chairperson Chris Anderson said in a statement. The campaign did not specify the number of people hurt or the nature of their injuries.
Acton was not reported injured in the incident. The circumstances that preceded the attack, and the identity of the suspect, were not immediately released. Local authorities detained the individual at the scene.
The Canfield Fair, held in northeastern Ohio, is one of the state’s largest annual events and a common stop for candidates during election season. Acton appeared there as part of her gubernatorial campaign.
Acton, a physician, previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Health. She led the state’s early public health response to the coronavirus pandemic before stepping down in 2020. Her run for governor is her first campaign for elected office.
The Ohio gubernatorial race is among the more closely watched contests in the country this year. Campaigns have entered the final weeks before the November general election.
Political violence and threats against candidates and officials have drawn heightened attention in the United States in recent years. Earlier reporting has documented rising confrontations involving officeholders and federal personnel across several states.
No further details on charges against the suspect were available. Investigators were expected to provide additional information in the days ahead.