Ohio’s largest public service unions endorse Amy Acton for governor

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Four of Ohio’s largest public service unions announced a joint endorsement of Dr. Amy Acton’s campaign for governor during a Dec. 4 event at the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association headquarters in Westerville, expanding organized labor support for her candidacy.

The endorsement from OCSEA, the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, and AFSCME Retirees Chapter 1184 comes two days after the United Auto Workers announced its own endorsement of Acton’s campaign.

Union leaders said their support was based on Acton’s record of engagement with organized labor and her positions on public services and working families. Remarks at the Westerville event were delivered by OCSEA President Chris Mabe and AFSCME International President Lee Saunders.

“Dr. Amy Acton’s story is an Ohio story, full of grit and guts. She is part of a union family. Her grandfather worked in the Youngstown steel mills,” Saunders said. He added that AFSCME affiliates across the state would support Acton’s campaign over the coming months.

Acton thanked union members for the endorsement and highlighted the role public employees play across Ohio. “The women and men of OCSEA, OAPSE, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, and AFSCME Retirees Chapter 1184 are on the front lines of public service,” Acton said. She stated that, if elected governor, she would support and honor public workers and ensure their work is respected at all levels of government.

Mabe said the endorsement reflected Acton’s history of standing with labor. “She is a proven leader who has always stood with labor,” Mabe said, describing her as committed to Ohio’s working people.

Joe Rugola, executive director of OAPSE, cited Acton’s stated commitment to public education and school employees. AFSCME Ohio Council 8 President R. Sean Grayson pointed to her experience as a public servant and her positions on funding and staffing public services relied upon by Ohioans.

Lou Maholic, president of AFSCME Retirees Chapter 1184, said Acton’s background resonated with retirees and working families.

The public service union endorsements follow a Dec. 2 announcement by the United Auto Workers, which said its Ohio CAP councils were backing Acton’s gubernatorial campaign. UAW leaders cited her positions on affordability, healthcare access, and labor issues affecting auto workers and other working-class Ohioans.

Together, the endorsements mark early, coordinated support from multiple major labor organizations in the 2026 Ohio governor’s race.