Amy Acton Proposes Fracking Moratorium Amid Bitter Ohio Governor Race

Democratic candidate Amy Acton proposed a three-year moratorium on new fracking injection well permits in Washington County, Ohio, to combat groundwater pollution. During a campaign stop in Marietta, Acton was joined by Susan Vessels, a Republican city council president who broke with her party to support the water protection measure. Acton is employing a rural strategy to target independents and disaffected Republicans ahead of the November 3 election, balancing water and healthcare priorities with moderate stances on immigration and transgender athletes.

Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has countered this approach by advocating for the expansion of coal, nuclear, and fracking to unlock American energy. While a New York Times and Siena University poll shows Acton holding a narrow lead, the race has shifted toward intensely personal attacks. Republican-backed groups released ads describing Acton as violent and unstable, citing a 2019 domestic dispute. The Acton campaign denied these claims, stating the incident was exaggerated.

In response, Democratic-aligned efforts have labeled Ramaswamy a con man and swindler, alleging he used his pharmaceutical company, Axovant, to profit from a failed Alzheimer's drug in a pump-and-dump scheme. Ramaswamy has denied the allegations. Due to the nature of these attacks, the Acton campaign has declined to debate Ramaswamy.