A powerful Ohio firefighter union just put its weight behind Amy Acton, giving the Democratic nominee a fresh labor boost during a Cincinnati campaign stop. The endorsement adds another public-safety voice to a governor’s race already being fought over unions, costs and who has Ohio workers’ backs.
The Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters endorsed Acton on Monday during her campaign trip to Cincinnati, according to WCPO 9. OAPFF President Jon Harvey said the organization weighs firefighter issues rather than party labels, while Acton declared she would be “the most pro-union, pro-labor governor” Ohio has ever had.
Acton’s Cincinnati pitch centered on the cost of living and her support for collective bargaining. Her campaign lists lowering health care costs, reducing expenses for Ohio families, supporting workers and improving public education among its priorities, according to Acton’s campaign website.
The endorsement arrives with the fall matchup set. Democrat Acton will face Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the general election after both candidates won their party nominations in the May 5 primaries, as reported by ABC News; the Ohio Secretary of State had previously listed both tickets among candidates qualified for the primary ballot.
Acton’s Cincinnati Labor Strategy Keeps Growing
Labor support has become a recurring feature of Acton’s Cincinnati-area campaign. In June, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined her at an IBEW Local 212 event in Evendale, a stop that Hoodline reported as part of a broader push to lock down union backing before the fall contest.
That organizing effort is landing in an unusually expensive and closely watched race. Axios reported in late July that Ohio could see an estimated $750 million in political advertising this election cycle, with the Acton-Ramaswamy governor contest among the state’s marquee matchups.
Ramaswamy Campaign Fires Back
Ramaswamy’s campaign did not let the endorsement pass without a counterpunch. In a statement to WCPO 9, a spokesperson pointed to endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce, while accusing Acton of avoiding direct questions from voters.
In practical terms, Monday’s endorsement gives Acton a fresh Cincinnati backdrop and a clear message about worker protections, union rights and cost-of-living relief. Whether that message can outmuscle the broader coalition Ramaswamy’s campaign is highlighting will be one of the central political tests of Ohio’s fall campaign.
