Political Violence Has No Place in Our Democracy

What happened today at the Mahoning County Fair in Canfield involving Dr. Amy Acton is frightening and unacceptable.

According to authorities and reporting this evening, an armed man was arrested following an incident involving Dr. Acton during her appearance at the fair. Dr. Acton was thankfully unharmed, although others were reportedly injured during the incident. I am grateful for the quick response by law enforcement and those who stepped in to protect her and those around her.

I don't care whether the person being threatened is a Democrat, Republican, independent, conservative, progressive, or anything in between. Political violence is wrong. Period.

I know the fear that can come with running for office and serving as an elected official. The night before Charlie Kirk was assassinated last year, I was doxxed online. The following day, I watched the news of his assassination unfold.

That experience stays with you.

There is a striking contrast for me in what happened today. While the events in Canfield were unfolding, I was at the Geauga County Fair. I spent some of my time at the Republican Party tent talking with Auditor-elect Joe DeBoth and Commissioner Carolyn Brakey.

I had made a point of meeting both of them in person—not to talk at them on social media or reduce them to political labels, but to connect with them as human beings.

We aren't going to agree on everything. We don't have to.

That is what our political process is supposed to look like. We should be able to sit across from one another, have a conversation, find the places where we agree, respectfully disagree where we don't, and then go home to our families.

Politics should never cause us to stop seeing the human being on the other side.

Public service should not require you—or your spouse and family—to wonder whether an angry political disagreement might someday become something more.

We can disagree. We can argue passionately. We can criticize elected officials. We can campaign against them, vote them out of office, write letters, attend meetings, protest, and challenge their decisions. Those things aren't threats to democracy. They are democracy.

But physical attacks and losing your life should never be part of the process.

Tonight, following the incident at the Mahoning County Fair, I reached out to Russell Township Police leadership and requested that additional attention be given to the safety of elected officials residing in our community during this campaign season. I left the appropriate response and deployment of our officers where it belongs: with the professional judgment of our Police Department.

I'm glad Dr. Acton is safe. I hope those injured today recover quickly. And I hope Ohioans across the political spectrum can agree on something that really shouldn't be controversial.

Nobody should have to fear violence because they chose to put their name on a ballot, serve their community, or participate in our democracy.