After a 'Rough Day' at Canfield Fair, Amy Acton Returns to Cleveland Parade and Aids Collapsed Spectators

Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, returned to campaigning in Cleveland on Sept. 7 after an attempted confrontation a day earlier, and spent part of the Labor Day parade helping people who fell ill in the crowd.

On-the-Spot Care at the Parade

Acton attended the 54th Annual Labor Day Parade & Festival on Cleveland's east side, where she tended to two women who collapsed during the 2.1-mile procession down Kinsman Avenue. Near the parade's end at Luke Easter Park she checked vitals and offered fluids; earlier she assisted an elderly woman about a block from the starting point, encouraging the woman to sip liquids until paramedics arrived.

Amy Acton supporters get ready for the Labor Day parade in Cleveland on Sept. 7, 2026.

Incident at the Canfield Fair

The previous day at the Canfield Fair in Mahoning County, authorities arrested 38-year-old Patrick Havas after witnesses said he charged at Acton. Havas faces two assault charges and one count of disorderly conduct. Police later found two handguns, a Taser and brass knuckles in his possession. Investigators continue to probe Havas' motive.

Acton's Response

Acton downplayed the days' events in remarks to paradegoers, calling Sept. 6 a "rough day" and describing herself as a "fierce warrior in this fight." She told the crowd gathered at Luke Easter Park, "They're making a big mistake when they mistake kindness for weakness. It's a fierce commitment to justice." Acton declined to take reporters' questions at the event.

Dr. Amy Acton, in straw hat, attends to a woman experiencing a medical emergency during the beginning of the 54th annual 11th Congressional District Community Caucus Labor Day Parade and Festival, Sept. 7, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Acton is running for governor of Ohio.

Local Concerns: Costs, Health Care and Voting

Many parade attendees said they had not heard about the fair incident and were more focused on pocketbook issues. Sharita Jackson of Maple Heights said the rising cost of living is her primary concern, especially food access and prescription costs for her elderly father who depends on Medicare Part D. With federal subsidies to stabilize Part D premiums set to end, experts say premiums and out-of-pocket caps could rise.

At a nearby booth, activist Greg Moore and the Ohio Voter Fund were registering voters and urging residents to check their registration status and polling locations. Moore emphasized the value of each vote and cautioned against efforts to restrict voting access, including legal debates over mail-in ballots and eligibility rules.

Amy Acton supporters get ready for the Labor Day parade in Cleveland on Sept. 7, 2026.

Background: Acton's Public Role and Politics

Acton previously served as Ohio's health director during the COVID-19 pandemic. She resigned amid intense criticism from opponents of public-health measures and Republican lawmakers, and is now campaigning as the Democratic nominee for governor on a platform that highlights protecting public schools, libraries and healthcare and healing civic divisions.

On Sept. 7, Acton used her presence at the parade to underscore the practical value of having a physician on hand at crowded summer events and to reiterate a campaign message focused on public services and shared humanity.

It was not immediately known whether the two people who collapsed at the parade required hospitalization.