Equality Ohio, the statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy and legal aid organization, has officially revised its evaluation of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton, adjusting her assessment from "Pending" to a "B" grade on its 2026 Candidate Scorecard.
The grading adjustment, which was updated on the advocacy group’s online platform, places the Democratic contender in an intermediate tier among state political figures. According to Equality Ohio's rubric, a "B" designation indicates that a candidate maintains an insufficient official record regarding LGBTQ+ civil rights issues, despite offering broadly supportive public statements.
The update represents the latest modification in a sequence of rating changes for Acton over the course of the summer. The organization originally awarded her an "A" mark before shifting her status to "Pending" on July 28 in response to controversial statements she made concerning transgender youth participation in athletics.
The remarks prompting that initial reevaluation occurred during a June 30 interview with the *Toledo Blade*, in which Acton responded to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld state-level prohibitions against transgender athletes competing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity.
In her comments to the publication, Acton stated that she did not support boys competing in girls' sports categories, describing the restriction as settled law within the state of Ohio. She further affirmed that as governor she intended to enforce existing statutes, asserting that her perspective as a physician, public servant, and mother guided her commitment to fairness and child safety.
Following the publication of those remarks, Equality Ohio moved Acton's rating to "Pending" and issued a statement noting that any subsequent updates to her evaluation would depend on whether she chose to take meaningful steps forward in supporting LGBTQ+ Ohioans.
However, the explanation accompanying the newly updated "B" rating made no mention of any corrective actions or progress. Instead, the rationale stated that her grade was adjusted from "A" to "B" following her June 30 remark, directly reflecting unresolved concerns regarding her support for transgender residents across the state.
Dwayne Steward, the executive director and chief executive officer of Equality Ohio, confirmed in a subsequent statement that the group had not verified any direct, meaningful outreach between Acton’s campaign and the transgender community. Steward noted that the final "B" rating was determined by weighing the candidate’s broader record and positions alongside the ongoing concerns raised by advocates.
Steward also clarified that while campaign staff members had communicated with Equality Ohio representatives, an official meeting requested directly with Acton herself had not yet taken place prior to the revision of the scorecard.
Acton’s updated rating contrasts sharply with the evaluation of her principal opponent in the race. Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy continues to hold an "F" rating on the scorecard, which the organization designates for figures who have a poor track record and are viewed as likely to harm LGBTQ+ civil rights. Libertarian candidate Don Kissick is not rated on the roster.
The scorecard modification went live online on a Thursday, preceding a high-profile security disruption Acton encountered over the weekend while campaigning at the Canfield Fair. During that Sunday event, an armed man forced his way through a crowd toward Acton, knocking over multiple attendees before being intercepted.
Officers with Acton’s Ohio State Highway Patrol security detail halted the individual before he reached the candidate, leaving Acton unhurt. Authorities stated the man was carrying two pistols, a Taser, and brass knuckles, though he did not brandish any weapons; he has since pleaded not guilty to charges including assault, disorderly conduct, and inducing panic while investigators examine his motives.
Despite the swift pace of campaign events, Equality Ohio’s grade revision triggered strong public criticism from within Ohio's progressive political community. Ari Childrey, an openly transgender candidate campaigning for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 84th District, openly condemned the organization's revised rating for Acton.
Childrey, who had received an "A+" grade and the designation of "Champion of Equality" on the same scorecard, described the adjustment as an insult to candidates who have consistently defended the LGBTQ+ community. She stated that awarding a passing mark to a political figure who embraced exclusionary policies and misgendered transgender youth undermined the credibility of the entire grading system.
Comparing the situation to a 2007 incident where the Human Rights Campaign backed a federal employment non-discrimination measure that excluded protections for transgender workers, Childrey declared that she would no longer accept her own "A+" rating from Equality Ohio. She stated that her candidacy would rely on her direct advocacy record rather than scorecards influenced by political triangulation.
Repeated inquiries seeking comment from Acton’s campaign regarding the updated scorecard grade were not answered. In response to an earlier media inquiry submitted in June, campaign staff members had stated that Acton could not accommodate an interview due to scheduling demands while adding the outlet to their press distribution list.
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