Did Candidate Amy Acton Isolate Ohio Registered Voters?

Did Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton isolate Ohio’s registered voters—including millions of Black voters, grassroots organizers, Gen Z, LGBTQ+ advocates, and constitutional conservatives? ​We personally think so, and here is why. ​

In Ohio—where registered voters do not register by party affinity but rather establish political affiliation by voting in partisan primaries—there are approximately 800,000 to 1,000,000 active Republican primary voters alongside millions of independent and liberty-minded citizens. Tens of thousands of these voters consistently support Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) in Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, where he routinely secures over 60 percent of the vote. Similarly, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) commands a massive regional and national constitutional-conservative following that heavily overlaps into the Greater Cincinnati and Southern Ohio media markets. 

​This broad base raises an essential question: Has Dr. Acton alienated these voters who strongly support the Constitution, or can a nonpartisan mandate for legal accountability bridge the gap? ​Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) has demonstrated that protecting individual rights against government overreach is a key conservative priority. By introducing landmark legislation—such as the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act—Rep. Davidson championed the fight to stop federal agencies from bypassing constitutional warrant requirements. 

When it comes to accountability, constitutional conservatives like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) have stood up as key co-leaders alongside Rep. Davidson on these critical Fourth Amendment safeguards. Furthermore, conservative Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA) notably joined as an original cosponsor of federal legislation to end qualified immunity alongside libertarian and cross-party reform leaders. ​

Beyond constitutional conservatives, candidates who dismiss systemic accountability risk disconnecting from Gen Z—a generation where over 70 percent of voters consider criminal justice reform a decisive issue and heavily favor ending qualified immunity. For young voters, who face rising housing costs, economic pressure, and attacks on reproductive and identity freedoms, government transparency is not an abstract theory—it is a lived priority. When candidates fail to address qualified immunity, they alienate a generation that demands real, enforceable protection against government overreach. ​When candidates ignore cross-party constitutional priorities like ending qualified immunity, eliminating corporate liability shields, and stopping warrantless surveillance, they risk disconnecting from a vital segment of Ohioans who demand that government power be bound by the rule of law. 

When fundamental constitutional rights are on the line, accountability isn’t a partisan issue—it is a core requirement of limited government. ​Voters across Ohio are not giving anyone a free pass. We didn’t let national candidates off the hook for their records, and we certainly are not going to let statewide candidates off the hook today. When candidates support qualified immunity or throw out spin about ballot initiatives, they are playing with our intelligence. Impacted families know the truth: qualified immunity isn't about protecting savings accounts—it is a legal wall designed to throw civil rights cases out of court before a jury ever sees the evidence. 

The National Shift: States and Congress Moving Beyond Immunity ​

Across the country, the demand for government accountability has moved from debate to legislative action. Several states, cities, and federal lawmakers have actively moved to end or limit the doctrine: ​

Colorado: Enacted Senate Bill 20-217 (2020) and SB 21-242 (2021), effectively stripping state-level qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in civil rights suits. ​

New Mexico: Passed the New Mexico Civil Rights Act (2021), banning qualified immunity for all government officials under state law. ​

New York City: The NYC Council passed legislation (2021) removing qualified immunity as a defense for police officers against unconstitutional search, seizure, and excessive force claims. ​

Other State Measures: States like Nevada and Montana have introduced or debated targeted reforms to curb government immunity defenses in civil litigation. ​

Current Federal Legislation in the 119th Congress 

​The Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026 (S. 3625 / H.R. 7046): Introduced to directly amend Section 1983 and strip qualified immunity as a legal defense for federal, state, and local officers when constitutional rights are violated. ​

Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY): Authored targeted reform legislation—such as the ICE OUT Act—to remove immunity protections for federal agents involved in civil rights violations. ​

Conservative Pushes: Conservative Republicans, including Rep. Tom McClintock, have argued that shielding public officials from constitutional violations runs counter to limited-government principles and public accountability. ​

The Myths vs. The Reality of Qualified Immunity ​

Here is the reality we are standing up against: ​

"You can just sue the city": FALSE. 
Under federal law, if qualified immunity blocks the case against the officer, the suit against the city gets thrown out too. Victims get $0 and zero justice.

​"It just protects personal assets": FALSE. 
Cities and unions almost always pay payouts anyway. Qualified immunity stops trial entirely. 

​"Officers still face internal accountability": FALSE. 
Civil court is often the ONLY independent way to hold systemic abuse accountable. 

​The Path Forward for Ohio ​

We are done with blind loyalty. From grassroots organizers and young voters to constitutional conservatives, we are demanding real accountability. If candidates want our votes, they must support real accountability and back Protecting Ohioans' Constitutional Rights. We will not sit back while our rights are treated like political bargaining chips. 

​Take action today: Share this article, tag your local representatives, and demand to know where they stand on Protecting Ohioans' Constitutional Rights. 

​"Rights without remedies are nothing more than words on paper; true justice requires a path to accountability." 

Miss Cynthia Brown, Founder, Heartbeat Movement Inc Committee Chair, Protecting Ohioans Constitutional Rights, The Ohio Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency Founder.