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Dr. Amy Acton, who is running for Ohio governor, has officially announced David Pepper as her running mate for Lieutenant Governor.
Pepper is a former Hamilton County Commissioner and Cincinnati City Council member, as well as the former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party.
The Acton-Pepper ticket promises a renewed focus on public health and civic engagement for Ohio voters in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
Dr. Amy Acton solidifies her campaign strategy by establishing the Acton Pepper ticket. Her running mate is veteran Cincinnati politician and former party chair David Pepper, according to Signal Ohio.
To note, Acton was the former director of the Ohio Department of Health who became a household name during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an announcement made Wednesday in Columbus, Acton named David Pepper, a former Hamilton County Commissioner and Cincinnati City Council member, as her choice for Lieutenant Governor, according to a report by WKYC.
The selection brings together two distinct wings of the Democratic coalition. Acton’s widely recognized public health expertise and outsider appeal are combined with Pepper’s deep experience in Ohio’s political trenches.
The move signals a serious bid to reclaim the governor’s mansion, currently held by the GOP, by leveraging Pepper’s strategic knowledge of the state’s electoral map and Acton’s personal popularity.
Cincinnati roots strengthen the Acton-Pepper ticket
For Cincinnati voters, the addition of David Pepper to the ticket adds a familiar local face to the statewide race. Pepper served on the Cincinnati City Council from 2001 to 2005 and later on the Hamilton County Commission from 2007 to 2010. During his time in local office, he was known for his focus on government reform and regional cooperation.
Pepper’s inclusion on the ticket is likely a strategic play to drive turnout in Southwest Ohio. This region is a critical battleground for any Democrat hoping to win statewide.
By tapping a running mate with deep ties to Hamilton County, Acton is signaling that Cincinnati’s concerns—from infrastructure to urban development—will be central to her platform.
“I am proud to select David Pepper as my Lieutenant Governor. We both share a lifelong commitment to fighting for Ohio’s working families and making our state a more affordable place to live for all of us. David is an innovative and pragmatic leader who has been laser focused on delivering for Ohioans for his entire career, from reducing the property tax rate for Cincinnatians to tackling foreclosures during the 2008 recession,” Acton said.
“I am thrilled to have David by my side in the fight to lower costs, tackle corruption and special interests, and ensure that every Ohio family can thrive and enjoy the quality of life we all deserve.”
David Pepper brings political experience to Acton-Pepper ticket
While Acton brings the “outsider” energy often craved by voters weary of career politicians, Pepper provides the tactical counterbalance. As the former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015 to 2021, Pepper has intimate knowledge of the state’s political machinery.
He is also a nationally recognized author, having written Laboratories of Autocracy, a book detailing the erosion of democratic norms at the state level.
Pepper’s political resume includes a run for Ohio Attorney General in 2014 and Ohio Auditor in 2010. Although those statewide bids were unsuccessful, his tenure as party chair allowed him to build a network of relationships across Ohio’s 88 counties.
“Amy is the only candidate in this race who will tackle our affordability crisis and work to lower costs, clean up the corruption, and invest to create world-class public schools, so we can finally put working families first, not billionaires or special interests,” said David Pepper.
“While our opponent is flying around our state in his private jet and moving his business from Ohio to Texas, we’re working to tackle the affordability crisis and create an Ohio where we can all get ahead.”
A focus on public health and democracy
The platform emerging from the new partnership appears to focus on two main pillars. These are revitalizing public health infrastructure and reforming state government. Acton’s background naturally lends itself to discussions on mental health, addiction recovery, and family welfare. She championed these issues during her time at the Department of Health and later at the Columbus Foundation.
Pepper’s recent work has focused heavily on voting rights and gerrymandering. By combining these priorities, the campaign hopes to appeal to a broad coalition of voters. These voters are concerned about both their physical well-being and the health of their democratic institutions.
The duo will likely face a challenging general election environment. The Republican field remains crowded and well-funded, with candidates already attacking Acton’s tenure during the pandemic. However, early polling suggests Acton retains high favorability ratings, particularly among suburban women, a demographic that could prove decisive in 2026.
Opposition and the road ahead
The announcement comes just days after reports surfaced that Republican contender Vivek Ramaswamy had selected State Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate. This sets the stage for a high-contrast general election.
While the GOP ticket is expected to lean heavily on business deregulation and conservative cultural issues, Acton and Pepper are positioning themselves as pragmatic problem solvers.
According to The Associated Press, the race is expected to be one of the most expensive in Ohio history. The Acton Pepper ticket will need to mobilize significant resources. This is necessary to compete with the fundraising prowess of their Republican counterparts.
Also read:
Hamilton County GOP’s Strategy for 2025: Can Republicans Gain Ground Amid Democratic Challenges?
