This will sound odd at a time that feels—and is—challenging (yesterday was especially bizarre), but some very good news also happened late in the day.
In Ohio, of all places.
Those from Ohio will know the name.
Those beyond Ohio may or may not—but I predict you will come to hear it in the next few years:
Dr. Amy Acton.
Outside of celebrities and athletes, she is perhaps the best known and most recognized woman in Ohio—and recognized across all 88 counties at that. And, rare for these times, she is viewed in a non-partisan way by most who know of her.
She earned that recognition by leading the state through multiple crises as Governor DeWine’s health director, becoming a household name while winning the JFK Profile in Courage Award for her leadership:
The New York Times profiled her in a story called “The Leader We All Wish We Had Need,” studying why her authentic and refreshing brand of public leadership and no-nonsense problem solving had such an impact on people:
But her unique style of leadership also inspired an even more spirited response at the grassroots and community level, with home-made yardsigns, a Facebook Fan page (which emerged organically, and still has 110,000(!) members), halloween costumes and even bobbleheads:
And yesterday….
Dr. Amy Acton announced that she filed the paperwork necessary to run for Governor of Ohio in 2026:
And while she worked well with a Republican Governor and folks across party lines, she’s a Democrat who wants to change the broken direction of Ohio.
You see why I say this is good news?
And there’s so much more about Dr. Acton’s story that makes it even better news.
She grew up in challenging circumstances in Youngstown, Ohio—meaning, few people in public service better understand the struggles faced by everyday Ohioans than she does. Through grit and determination, she overcame those challenges to work her way into and through medical school, then served families as a pediatrician before becoming a respected leader in the field of public health.
She approaches problems as a doctor and not a politician—so as we face up to the reality that Ohio lags in virtually every public outcome imaginable (from population to education to GDP to health outcomes), her style is to work together and listen to everyday Ohioans to actually solve problems on their behalf.
Wouldn’t that be nice, Ohio?
With millions watching, she helped lead Ohio amid multiple crises, so she knows the actual job as well as anyone outside of current and past governors.
And, new to politics even though well-known and respected as a public servant, she is as far from the broken status quo (and corruption) in Ohio politics as it gets. She enters the race and would enter office truly independent of the deep-pocketed special interests that have been sending Ohio in the wrong direction for far too long.
You see why I say this is good news?
On a personal note, I had the good fortune to be in Amy’s company at a number of events last Fall. (She criss-crossed the state getting to know Ohioans while helping candidates, county parties and other organizations).
And I can personally attest, in all my years—with only one exception (John and Annie Glenn)—I have not personally witnessed a public figure draw a more passionate, personal response than she does with everyday Ohioans, whether one on one or in groups large and small.
On the one hand, it’s not surprising. While she was leading the state, public polling showed overwhelming Ohio support for her leadership:
(To put this number in perspective, Ohio is such a huge state that politicians can run, win and be in office for decades and still never rise out of low- to mid-40s, at highest; on a good day, those currently looking to run amid the musical chairs on the GOP side are in the low-30s at best despite years in office).
And in this highly polarized time, a later poll (in 2021) showed that Dr. Acton continued to have a far higher net favorability rating than all other Ohio public figures tested (all others were actually net negative).
But still, even that sky-high polling doesn’t capture what I’ve seen in person: years later, a deeply personal connection that still exists between Dr. Acton and Ohioans. The connection plays out in intimate stories shared, long selfie lines, hugs, some tears, and in packed rooms and standing ovations. Everywhere she goes.
It’s the rare kind of personal bond and earned trust that can fuel a successful campaign—and better yet, a movement—for something better.
And something way beyond usual politics. Which is exactly what we need.
Ok, so that’s the good news…
So, folks, I hope you see that this is indeed a rare opportunity. Once in a generation, actually.
Given that Dr. Acton filed just yesterday, things are only getting started. It’s a long road to 2026. But Dr. Acton’s introduction to Ohio lifted her to a position of statewide respect that the most successful political figures can only hope to achieve after years on the scene.
Meaning, she starts this campaign as well positioned as any candidate in recent memory.
(Speaking of 2026, history shows us that the best time to run statewide is in the second mid-term of the other party’s presidency. Remember 2006, anyone?)
So Dr. Acton entering at this moment opens up Ohio’s best opportunity in a long time.
But that opportunity can be squandered if we don’t seize it, and help build on it. And helping build a campaign like this, early, may be the single best thing we can do right now amid the broader chaos in politics.
We need to build an army of grassroots Ohioans who know we can and must do better. And whose wide support fuels the campaign so it can steer clear of the special interests and be successful.
Needless to say, I’m all in.
I hope you will be as well.
If you want to sign up to get updates and learn more, you can go to her opening website and sign up HERE.
If you want to help Amy get off to a strong fundraising start, you can give HERE. Be among the first to join the team. Again, the strength off her grassroots support is central to the campaign succeeding.
And if you have an interest in joining Amy’s organizing team, or doing an event for Amy, please let me know by emailing me at davidpepper4ohio@gmail.com.
There will be many opportunities to come, but let’s help get this critical campaign and movement off the ground with as much energy as possible.
Also, please be sure to share this with anyone you know who’s looking for something exciting to join amid these otherwise challenging times.
Stay tuned….
Day 38 — January 7, 2025
Perhaps the wildest day yet, with Trump suggesting that both economic pressure and military force are potential options to annex Greenland and the Panama Canal, while circulating maps of Canada as a 51st state:
On the ever declining media front, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg announced that fact checking was too “political,” and would be eliminated from the nation’s most used social network, among other changes.
Needles to say, Trump‘s reckless rhetoric both undermines NATO (of which both Canada and Denmark are members), and essentially takes the autocrats’ side in how nations should behave when it comes to territorial temptation. All a huge boost to Russia and China.
As for Zuckerberg, someone needs to introduce him to Hannah Arendt, who explained how the attack on truth works in autocratic systems:
“The result of a consistent and total substitution of lies for factual truth is not that the lies will now be accepted as truth, and the truth be defamed as lies, but that the sense by which we take our bearings in the real world—and the category of truth vs. falsehood is among the mental means to this end—is being destroyed."
I’m all for this.
Still in shock that Ohio chose Bernie Moreno over Sherrod Brown, but I continue to hope.
Already donated late last night (or early this morning as the case may be) as soon as I got her text.
The MAGA contingent will have the knives out over her mask mandate THAT THEY ARE STILL MAD ABOUT. But I'm hoping we get enough people on her side to counteract that. Very exciting, though!