FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2025
Contact: Neil Bhaerman, nbhaerman@oft-aft.org
Ohio Federation of Teachers Endorses Amy Acton for Governor
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) announced today that they have endorsed Dr. Amy Acton for Governor, following a meeting and vote last night of OFT’s Executive Council, a representative assembly made up of member leaders from OFT local unions across Ohio. In advance of the endorsement vote, Dr. Acton addressed OFT Executive Council members and other OFT members at the union’s Local Leaders Conference in September and in a webinar held earlier this month.
“We are proud to endorse Dr. Amy Acton for Governor because she will put our children, families, and communities first by strengthening public education, higher education, and public services, and making life in Ohio more affordable,” said OFT President Melissa Cropper. “OFT members first got to know Dr. Acton when she provided life-saving, science-based recommendations to Gov. DeWine about curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her courage in that moment, her record of bipartisanship, her support for public education, and her personal journey working her way out of poverty and putting herself through college and medical school all show us what kind of Governor she will be.”
“I am honored to receive the Ohio Federation of Teachers endorsement. Public schools saved my life as a kid, and my husband has dedicated his life to Ohio’s public schools, teaching and coaching for more than forty years,” said Dr. Amy Acton. “Improving our public schools is personal for me. While Vivek Ramaswamy wants to double down on policies that are failing our schools and kids, and keeps attacking Ohio teachers along the way, I am proud to work alongside teachers to support our schools— so we reduce class sizes, improve math and literacy, and invest in new, proven approaches to ensure our teachers and students have the tools they need to thrive.”
On OFT’s core issues – like public education, higher education, workers’ rights, public libraries, and social services – Dr. Acton’s positions align with the priorities of OFT members. Dr. Acton’s likely opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, wants to eliminate teacher collective bargaining, further expand private school vouchers, and defund public services by slashing or eliminating income and property taxes. Ramaswamy did not reach out to OFT to request consideration for an endorsement.
“Amy Acton will be a Governor who will put Ohio children first. She’ll work to restore funding to our public schools and make sure that educators, not politicians, are making decisions about what to teach our students,” said Shari Obrenski, President of the Cleveland Teachers Union and OFT’s First Vice President. “The contrast with Vivek Ramaswamy couldn’t be clearer. He wants to defund our schools by giving even more tax breaks to wealthy Ohioans and he is committed to turning our classrooms into a battleground for culture wars rather than the welcoming, supportive learning environment every student deserves.”
As Governor, Dr. Acton would be in position to veto extremist and unpopular legislation from the statehouse, such as SB 1, which put politicians in charge of what can be taught in public colleges and universities, stripped faculty of some collective bargaining rights, shackled universities with unfunded administrative mandates, and ended all attempts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“Ohio’s public colleges and universities are among the best in the country, provide amazing opportunities to Ohio students, and strengthen communities statewide,” said Theresa Kulbaga, a Professor of English at Miami University and President of the Faculty Alliance of Miami. “We need a governor who will lift up and support higher education students, faculty, and staff – and that starts by rolling back and repealing as much of SB 1 as possible. Amy Acton is ready to join that fight with us while Vivek Ramaswamy supports SB 1 and wants to continue sowing division in our communities and eroding educator collective bargaining rights.”
Dr. Acton, who is married to a public school teacher, also understands the importance of protecting elected member seats on the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Board. A provision in Ohio’s current budget would remove four elected board positions and create four new board seats for political appointees, putting the majority of the board in the hands of partisan politicians. The change in the board’s composition is currently enjoined while STRS members challenge it in court.
“The legislature overreached by raiding our retirement fund’s board, and Governor DeWine rubber-stamped their power grab,” said Elizabeth Jones, a retired Cincinnati teacher who is currently serving on the STRS Board. “It’s our retirement fund, we need to have a voice on the board, and Amy Acton will help us fight to keep that voice. We deserve a Governor who will stand up for us and block the anti-worker, anti-educator attacks from our gerrymandered legislature.”
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