Armed man lunged at Democratic Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton at fair, campaign says

Updated on: September 6, 2026 / 7:03 PM EDT / CBS/AP

An armed assailant lunged at the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Amy Acton, on Sunday during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair, injuring several people, campaign officials said.

The suspect knocked volunteers to the ground and was arrested with "multiple weapons," Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Anderson said in a statement.

Acton was not injured, but campaign officials said multiple people were hurt.

Law enforcement officials have not provided details on the incident.

Wayne Penny Jr., a Democratic candidate for Ohio's 59th State House District, told CBS News that hecklers had gathered at the Democratic Party's tent when one of them "bum-rushed through the crowd" in Acton's direction.

"He literally bull-rushed through the crowd, knocked our volunteers down, ran through, pushed and knocked the elderly gentleman over with Parkinson's, and the gentleman hit his head and fell," Penny said. "The highway patrol jumped on him, or security detail, and arrested him on site."

Penny said after the man was detained, he saw brass knuckles had fallen off his fingers and a gun was exposed.

Acton was "grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/