2026年10月23日 美国东部时间下午2:30 / 福克斯新闻
政治策略师梅赫克·库克认为，艾米·阿克顿在新冠疫情封锁期间担任卫生总监的履历应成为竞选焦点
安德鲁·马克·米勒 报道
福克斯数字新闻采访了律师梅赫克·库克，谈及维韦克·拉马斯瓦米颇具争议的州长竞选广告，以及她为何认为艾米·阿克顿的履历使其不适合担任州长。
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本周早些时候，俄亥俄州州长候选人维韦克·拉马斯瓦米发布的一则广告引发了两轩然大波，但该州一名政治策略师表示，真正决定竞选结果的是他的对手——前卫生总监艾米·阿克顿的履历。
这则广告中，阿克顿疏远的母亲唐娜·亚瑟指控女儿在童年问题上撒谎，并质疑她担任州长的资格。阿克顿回应称，在她的继父被指控性侵她后，她和哥哥被母亲剥夺了抚养权，而拉马斯瓦米则因这则广告迅速遭到民主党和部分共和党人的抨击；拉马斯瓦米为广告进行了辩护，并表示将在未来几周投入数百万美元用于投放。
这则广告引发的争议在社交媒体上迅速发酵，甚至引起了唐纳德·特朗普总统的关注，他强烈为拉马斯瓦米辩护。俄亥俄州律师兼政治策略师梅赫克·库克在接受福克斯数字新闻采访时表示，应当关注的焦点是阿克顿的履历，而非这则广告。
“我认为我们必须从维韦克近期的广告上转移注意力，转而关注俄亥俄州选民面临的最重要问题：你希望谁来治理俄亥俄州？显然，我们无法信任艾米·阿克顿，她的过往经历也证明了这一点，”库克在接受福克斯数字新闻采访时说道。
拉马斯瓦米抨击民主党对手的“离谱”新冠言论：“满嘴谎言”
（图片说明：俄亥俄州共和党州长候选人维韦克·拉马斯瓦米（左）、民主党候选人艾米·阿克顿（右）。图片来源：迈克尔·M·圣地亚哥/盖蒂图片社；斯蒂芬·岑纳/彭博社 via 盖蒂图片社）
阿克顿的履历涉及职业与个人层面的多重争议，其中许多争议已成为俄亥俄州竞选广告的核心议题。
新冠疫情初期，阿克顿在共和党州长迈克·德瓦恩的政府中担任卫生总监，当时俄亥俄州关闭学校、酒吧和餐厅，限制各类商业活动，并在全州范围内实施居家令。
她还签署了多项命令，限制疗养院访客、关闭老年中心和成人日托机构、限制大型集会，以及关闭健身房和个人服务类企业；在因封锁措施造成的负面影响遭到反对后，她辞去了职务。
“新冠一代”：探究疫情时期学校关闭的持久影响
（图片说明：民主党州长候选人、医学博士艾米·阿克顿于2026年5月5日星期二在俄亥俄州哥伦布市的初选夜竞选集会上发表讲话，庆祝赢得该党州长候选人提名。图片来源：杰·拉普拉特/美联社照片）
“她曾为迈克·德瓦恩担任卫生总监，辞职前曾下令给我们的孩子佩戴口罩、关闭全州，没错，那些命令上确实有迈克·德瓦恩的名字，但说到底，签名字的人是艾米·阿克顿，”库克表示，“而且是她推动对我们的孩子实施封锁的。我绝不想任用一位在疫情期间就撂挑子离开本州的人。我无法想象，如果她再次情绪失控，无论是管理州预算还是处理其他事务，后果会怎样。所以人们不信任艾米。”
阿克顿对疗养院的管理也遭到了亲拉马斯瓦米广告的抨击。2020年3月，俄亥俄州对疗养院及类似设施实施了广泛的访客禁令，将居民与家人分隔在疫情初期。
俄亥俄州卫生部门后来因拒绝公布疗养院层面的新冠死亡数据被起诉。俄亥俄州一家上诉法院裁定，该部门拒绝提供疗养院死亡相关信息的行为违反了该州的公共记录法。
“新冠2.0”：关键摇摆州议员反对全面的健康“警察权”
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法院的裁决针对的是卫生部门作为机构的行为，并未认定阿克顿个人下令隐瞒相关记录。不过，批评人士仍持续指出，这一争议引发了关于她任职期间透明度的质疑。
阿克顿的关闭令也成为俄亥俄州健身房提起诉讼的对象。在“摇滚屋健身案”中，法院将该州的相关行为描述为“专断、不合理且具有压迫性”，但后续的司法程序和该州指令的调整使这一争议变得复杂。
更近的消息是，5名现任及前任州政府工作人员向《华盛顿 Examiner》透露，阿克顿有时会缺席疫情策略会议，且在领导州应对工作时情绪波动极大。一位消息人士称，她在一次紧急会议前被发现蜷缩在地板上，另一位消息人士则表示曾看到她在卫生间哭泣。
2019年的一份警方报告也成为竞选议题。贝克斯利警方在接到阿克顿丈夫相关家庭纠纷的报警后，前往她的住所。根据基于警方报告的报道，阿克顿的女儿告诉警方，阿克顿当时正在饮酒、扔东西并砸碎玻璃。报告还称，阿克顿将墙上的镜子扯下来摔碎了。
无人受伤，也无人遭到起诉。阿克顿的竞选团队将这一事件描述为正常的夫妻口角，并否认其存在酗酒问题的指控。阿克顿曾称，关于她酗酒或吸毒的整体指责是“谎言”和“彻头彻尾的编造”。
库克解释称，支持执法将是下一任州长所需的关键品质，而阿克顿在这方面的表现欠缺；她还指出阿克顿曾发表过一条言论，似乎将移民和海关执法局（ICE）特工与三K党相提并论，并将阿克顿与全国社会主义候选人倡导的“削减警务”理念关联起来。
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（图片说明：艾米·阿克顿，前俄亥俄州卫生总监、民主党州长候选人，于2026年4月6日星期一在俄亥俄州哥伦布市的“畅饮咖啡”竞选期间会见当地居民。图片来源：斯蒂芬·岑纳/彭博社 via 盖蒂图片社）
“那里的人戴着口罩、全副武装，”阿克顿今年早些时候在克利夫兰城市俱乐部论坛上表示，“我们甚至不知道他们是谁，他们就这么直接出现了。这难道不让任何人联想到三K党吗？”
尽管拉马斯瓦米因使用阿克顿母亲的广告而遭到抨击，但这场竞选早已变得针锋相对，且与家庭议题挂钩——阿克顿阵营也发布了攻击拉马斯瓦米母亲的广告。
“他们发布了针对维韦克·拉马斯瓦米母亲和一款阿尔茨海默病药物失败事件的攻击广告，他们最先攻击的就是家庭，我觉得政治本就残酷，”库克表示，“这就像在别人的衣柜里翻找任何东西的对抗性运动，所有事情都会被抖出来，但不同的是，维韦克会主动回应问题，他会和人交谈，他会解释自己的企业或为俄亥俄州民众经济福祉所做的任何事情。而艾米一直在躲躲闪闪。”
距离选民选出俄亥俄州下任州长还有11天，阿克顿尚未同意与拉马斯瓦米进行辩论，库克表示这是因为她无法阐述复杂的议题。
“他们正在采用乔·拜登的策略——躲在地下室、扮演受害者，这不会奏效的，”库克表示。
“艾米永远不会站到舞台上，因为事实是，她不知道自己的立场，她的政策将由今日掌控其政党的民主社会主义者为她制定，而现在的计划就是‘躲起来’。”
库克讲述了最近一位政治立场为无党派的医生的拜访，当时谈到了拉马斯瓦米的广告，这位医生的回应表明，该广告对拉马斯瓦米的伤害并不像媒体描绘的那样大。
“他说，‘我不在乎广告里有什么，’”库克解释道，“‘我在乎的是她的正直问题。而问题在于，她的立场是什么？我知道维韦克的立场是什么，但我完全不知道她的立场是什么。’”
在广告风波发生前进行的福克斯新闻民调显示，这场竞选胶着， likely选民支持阿克顿的比例为50%，支持拉马斯瓦米的比例为48%。
安德鲁·马克·米勒是来自加州帕萨迪纳的记者，自2021年起加入福克斯数字新闻。他的联系邮箱是AndrewMark.Miller@fox.com。
‘Can’t trust Amy Acton’: Viral ad distracts from what’s really at stake in critical race, GOP strategist says
October 23, 2026 2:30pm EDT / Fox News
Political strategist Mehek Cooke argues Amy Acton’s record as health director during COVID-19 lockdowns should be the focus
By Andrew Mark Miller
Fox News Digital spoke to attorney Mehek Cooke about Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial gubernatorial ad and why she believes Amy Acton’s record disqualifies her from leading.
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An ad earlier this week from Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sparked outrage from both sides of the aisle, but a political strategist in the state says that the record of his opponent, former health director Amy Acton, is what ultimately makes the difference in the race.
The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, accusing her daughter of lying about her childhood and questioning her fitness to serve as governor. Acton responded by saying she and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody after her stepfather was accused of sexually abusing her, and Ramaswamy was quickly blasted by Democrats and some Republicans over the ad, which he has defended and spent millions to run over the next couple of weeks.
The controversy over the ad went viral on social media and was even commented on by President Donald Trump, who strongly defended Ramaswamy. Ohio attorney and political strategist Mehek Cooke told Fox News Digital that Acton’s record is what should be under the microscope, not the ad.
“I think that we have to really shift from Vivek’s recent ad into the most important question for Ohioans is, who do you want governing the state of Ohio? We clearly can’t trust Amy Acton, and she has a record of that,” Cooke told Fox News Digital.
RAMASWAMY TORCHES DEM RIVAL OVER ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ COVID-19 CLAIM: ‘SPEWING LIES’
Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, left, and Democratic candidate Amy Acton, right.(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images ; Stephen Zenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Acton’s record involves controversies both professionally and personally, many of which have been focused on by ads in the state of Ohio.
Acton served as health director under Republican Gov. Mike DeWine during the first months of COVID-19, when Ohio closed schools, shuttered bars and restaurants, restricted businesses and imposed a statewide stay-at-home order.
She also signed orders restricting nursing-home visitors, closing senior centers and adult daycare facilities, limiting mass gatherings and closing gyms and personal-service businesses before leaving the position amid pushback for the negative impact the lockdowns had.
‘GENERATION COVID’ EXPLORES THE LASTING TOLL OF PANDEMIC-ERA SCHOOL CLOSURES
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton speaks at a primary election night campaign event after winning the party’s nomination for governor in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.(Jay LaPrete/AP Photo)
“She worked as a health director for Mike DeWine and left after masking our children, shutting down our state, and yes, Mike DeWine’s name is on those orders, but at the end of the day, it was Amy Acton’s signature,” Cooke said. “And she’s the one who pushed for locking down our kids. I don’t ever want to hire somebody who quits on the state during a pandemic. I can’t imagine if she had another meltdown, whether it was managing our state budget or anything else. So people don’t trust Amy.”
Acton’s handling of nursing homes has also drawn criticism in pro-Ramaswamy advertisements on the airwaves. Ohio imposed a broad visitor ban at nursing homes and similar facilities in March 2020, separating residents from family members during the early months of the pandemic.
The Ohio Department of Health was later sued over its refusal to release facility-level COVID-19 death data. An Ohio appeals court ruled that the department violated the state’s public-records law by refusing to provide information about nursing-home deaths.
‘COVID 2.0’: LAWMAKERS PUSH BACK ON SWEEPING HEALTH ‘POLICE POWER’ IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE
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The ruling involved the health department as an agency and did not establish that Acton personally ordered the records to be withheld. However, critics have continued to argue that the controversy raises questions about transparency during her tenure.
Acton’s closure orders also became the subject of litigation from Ohio gyms. In the Rock House Fitness case, a court described the state’s actions as “arbitrary, unreasonable, and oppressive,” though subsequent legal proceedings and changes to the state’s orders complicated the dispute.
More recently, five current and former state-government workers told the Washington Examiner that Acton was sometimes absent from pandemic strategy meetings and emotionally volatile while leading the state’s response. One source alleged that she was found curled up on the floor before an emergency meeting, while another said she was seen crying in a bathroom.
A separate 2019 police report has also become a campaign issue. Bexley police responded to Acton’s home after a reported domestic dispute involving her husband. According to reporting based on the police report, Acton’s daughter told police that Acton had been drinking, throwing things and breaking glass. The report also said Acton pulled a mirror from a wall, shattering it.
No one was injured and no charges were filed. Acton’s campaign described the episode as a normal marital argument and disputed claims that it demonstrated alcohol abuse. Acton has called broader accusations that she is an alcoholic or drug addict “lies” and “a complete fabrication.”
Cooke explained that supporting law enforcement will be a critical attribute the next governor needs and that Acton has shown she is weak in that area, pointing to an Acton comment that appeared to compare ICE agents to the KKK and tying Acton to the “defund the police” ideology popular with socialist candidates across the country.
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Amy Acton, former director of the Ohio Department of Health and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, meets with local residents while campaigning at Bottoms Up Coffee in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, April 6, 2026.(Stephen Zenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“There are people coming out there wearing masks, with all the gear on,” Acton said earlier this year during a City Club of Cleveland forum. “We don’t even know who they are. They’re just showing up. Does this not feel like the Ku Klux Klan to anyone?”
While Ramaswamy has faced blowback for using Acton’s mother in an ad, the race had already gotten personal and tied to family, with Acton’s side running ads invoking Ramaswamy’s mother.
“They have run an attack ad on Vivek Ramaswamy’s mother and the failure of an Alzheimer’s drug, they started attacking family first and I think politics is brutal,” Cooke said. “This is a contact sport in terms of anything in your closet. It all goes, but the difference is Vivek actually comes and addresses questions. He talks to people. He explains whether it was his businesses or anything else that he has conducted for the betterment of our economy and Ohioans. Amy continues to hide.”
With 11 days until voters decide who will be the next governor of Ohio, Acton has not yet agreed to debate Ramaswamy, which Cooke says is because she can’t articulate the complicated issues.
“They’re trying this Joe Biden strategy of hide in the basement, play the victim card, and it’s not going to work,” Cooke said.
“Amy will never get on a stage because the truth is she doesn’t know what she stands for, she’s going to have policies written for her by Democratic socialists that are running her party today, and right now, the plan is, let’s hide.”
Cooke recounted a recent visit to a doctor, who politically identifies as an Independent, where Ramaswamy’s ad came up and described a response that suggests the ad is not as damaging to Ramaswamy as being portrayed in the media.
“He said, ‘I don’t care about what’s in the ad,’” Cooke explained. “‘I care about her integrity. And the problem is, what does she stand for? I know what Vivek stands for. I have no idea what she stands for.’”
Fox News polling, conducted before the ad fallout, shows a tight race with likely voters favoring Acton over Ramaswamy by 50% to 48%.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter from Pasadena, California, who has been with Fox News Digital since 2021. You can reach him at AndrewMark.Miller@fox.com.
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