On the latest episode of Scott Spears’ radio show on WWGH, former Governor Ted Strickland talked the 2026 Ohio Governor’s race and how Dr. Amy Acton is a “great candidate,” who is “in a position to win” because of her “inspiring” story and the fact that she brings together “some Republican and many independent” voters. Former Governor Strickland also stressed the urgency of uniting around Amy and avoiding a primary.  See highlights below:

“She’s not a politician, she’s a  physician. And she’s a wonderful person, and I think she’s picking up a lot of support from non traditional Democratic voters, some Republican many independents are seeing her as a different kind of politician, and maybe the kind of politician that we need now, someone who can pull us together, someone who is not a politician by history, but someone who is a caring, thoughtful physician who wants to give her talents and her abilities in service to the people of our state. And so I’m very excited about her candidacy.”

“I think she’s a great candidate. Would be a great governor…she’s working hard. She’s getting a lot of support, and I think she is earning the nomination just based upon her tenacious, hard work she’s doing.”

“She’s all over the state. She’s talking to people, and people are responding to Amy Acton in a very emotional way. I mean, when they hear her story, she came from abject poverty growing up in the Youngstown area. I mean, you know, I thought I was poor as a kid, but compared to what Amy experienced as a child, I wasn’t poor because I always had a roof over my head. She sometimes had a tent over her head as a child, as she was trying to navigate this life. But she went to school, she earned her college degree. She went on to medical school. She became a caring physician, a caring doctor, and assisted Governor Dewine and his cabinet during that incredible, deadly period of the virus, the coronavirus. And she gave good advice and counsel to the people of this state.”

“And so she’s a very unusual person to be a candidate for governor. You know, she has never held another elected office. Think of that just being a regular citizen to being a candidate for governor of this great state of ours. I think that’s inspiring, and I think a lot of people find her story inspiring, and you know, are going to be willing to take a serious look at her”

“If she is the candidate, I think she has a wonderful chance of defeating Ramaswamy.”

“I think Amy’s in a position to win this, this race”

“I think Amy, with her approach, may be able to break through that polarization and present herself as someone who can pull people together.”

“She’s just a wonderful human being. I am so inspired by her and her story. She’s authentic, she’s genuine, she’s compassionate and caring, but she’s also very strong. And  so I think she could be a wonderful governor. You know, I’ve had that office, and I know you know what it entails, and the kind of pressures that you have to deal with day to day basis, and so on and so forth. I think, I think she is absolutely a strong person and a thoughtful, caring person, and she’s also incredibly intelligent, and I think she understands the issues facing our state and our and our country.”

“I don’t think a divisive primary would be helpful. I would hope we could avoid a primary.”

Listen to the full interview HERE