Chaos erupted at the Canfield Fair on Sunday when an armed man allegedly charged through a crowd toward Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton. According to a campaign spokesperson and local authorities, the suspect pushed through attendees in the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent, causing several people to be knocked to the ground. While Acton herself was not harmed, officials say multiple individuals were injured in the scramble, including two older adults who were trampled during the rush.
Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene identified the suspect as 38 year old Patrick Havas of Canfield. Investigators revealed that Havas was carrying two firearms and a pair of brass knuckles at the time of his arrest, although police noted that none of these weapons were actually brandished during the encounter. Witnesses described a scene where Havas used his cellphone to record Acton before suddenly barreling through the tent as if attempting to rush her. Security personnel from the Ohio State Highway Patrol quickly intervened, tackling Havas to the ground and taking him into custody.
Former Representative John Boccieri, who witnessed the event firsthand, recounted how one elderly man appeared to hit his head on a table during the commotion. Boccieri noted that once Havas was subdued, Dr. Acton immediately stepped in to provide care and assistance to the fallen man before her security detail escorted her away for safety. Havas is now expected to face charges of assault and disorderly conduct as investigators look further into his motives for targeting the candidate.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation across party lines amid growing national concerns over political violence. Both Governor Mike DeWine and Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy issued statements emphasizing that candidates must be able to engage with voters without fear of physical threats. Even Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona weighed in via social media, citing his family’s own traumatic history with political violence to call for justice against perpetrators of such attacks. For now, Dr. Acton remains safe and continues her high stakes bid for governor in what has become an increasingly tense election cycle.
