DeWine Refutes Ramaswamy Ad Blaming Acton for 2020 Poll Closures

Ohio governor says he, not former health director, made the call to postpone primary election due to COVID-19 concerns.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:07am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office space, with a single desk and chair bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of solemnity and the weight of a difficult political decision.The quiet aftermath of a contentious political decision that reverberated through Ohio's 2020 pandemic response.Columbus Today

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has denounced a gubernatorial campaign ad from Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that claims former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton was responsible for postponing the 2020 primary election. DeWine said he, not Acton, made the decision to close the polls due to COVID-19 concerns, and that Acton signed the directive at his instruction.

Why it matters

The ad's claim that Acton abused her power by closing the polls contradicts DeWine's account and could impact the upcoming Republican primary, where Ramaswamy is the frontrunner. The issue also highlights ongoing debates over executive authority and pandemic response measures in Ohio.

The details

On the night before the scheduled 2020 primary election, Acton ordered the closure of the polls under emergency powers granted to her as health director. However, DeWine said he instructed Acton to sign the directive, citing concerns about older voters and poll workers being disenfranchised or endangered by the pandemic. DeWine said the decision was ultimately his, not Acton's. The ad references a judge's order to postpone the election, but DeWine said he made the call to ensure public safety.

  • On March 14, 2020, DeWine ordered schools to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The 2020 primary election was originally scheduled for March 17, 2020.
  • Hours before the election, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye declined to order a postponement.
  • On the night of March 16, 2020, Acton signed the directive to close the polls.
  • The primary was eventually extended into April 2020, with most voting conducted by mail.

The players

Mike DeWine

The Republican governor of Ohio who says he, not former Health Director Amy Acton, made the call to close the polls in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.

Amy Acton

The former Ohio Health Director who signed the directive to close the polls in 2020, but did so at DeWine's instruction according to the governor.

Vivek Ramaswamy

The Republican gubernatorial candidate who sponsored an ad claiming Acton abused her power by closing the polls in 2020, a claim DeWine has refuted.

Rob McColley

The Republican state Senate President and Ramaswamy's running mate, who defended the ad's assertion that Acton was responsible for the poll closures.

Frank LaRose

The Republican Ohio Secretary of State who filed for a temporary restraining order to postpone the 2020 primary election.

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What they’re saying

“'In government this happens all the time. Do you think a member of the president's cabinet would issue this kind of order without his approval? I told her to issue the health order. The decision was mine.'”

— Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio

“'I stand behind it. She violated her constitutional and statutory authority.'”

— Rob McColley, Ohio State Senate President

“'There are too many factors to balance in this uncharted territory to say that we ought to take it away from the legislature and elected statewide officials, and throw it to a common pleas court judge in Columbus with 12 hours to go to the election.'”

— Richard Frye, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge

What’s next

The Republican primary election in Ohio is scheduled for May 5, 2026, and the ad's claims about Acton's role in the 2020 poll closures could become a key issue in the race between Ramaswamy and DeWine's preferred candidate.

The takeaway

This dispute over the 2020 primary election highlights the ongoing political tensions in Ohio around executive authority, pandemic response measures, and the role of public health officials. The outcome could impact the state's gubernatorial race and the broader debate over state leaders' decision-making during the COVID-19 crisis.