Brown, Acton make final push in Dayton as Ohio midterm races near

With the midterm election a week away, Democratic candidates Dr. Amy Acton and Sen. Sherrod Brown made a campaign stop in downtown Dayton on Monday evening, rallying supporters as they seek to win two high-profile Ohio races.

Hundreds gathered downtown to hear the candidates' vision for the state, cheering and waving signs as the event got underway.

The lineup of speakers included State Representative Desiree Tims, U.S. Congressional candidate Kristina Knickerbocker and Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General John Kulewicz, all speaking to rally attendees to mobilize them to achieve the following goals:

- Breaking the supermajority in the state house

- Ending perceived corruption involving special interests and billionaires

- Lowering costs for electricity, property taxes and health care

Knickerbocker focused her address to those at the rally on making healthcare affordable and accessible, protecting public health infrastructure, supporting veterans via full funding of the VA and opposing corporate influence.

During the rally, Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, addressed a controversial ad that features her estranged mother.

“Hope is what got me through sexual abuse and got me through cold nights where all I could think about was keeping my brother warm and safe,” Acton said. “And hope is what made me dedicate my whole career to keeping Ohioans well and safe.”

Brown, a former senator running again as the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate against John Husted, focused on affordability and blamed current officeholders for rising costs.

“Politicians, people are supposed to work for you. Too many are cashing in,” Brown said. “He led the charge to bring 226 data centers to our communities, 226 in this state, and then he gave those corporations two and a half billion of our tax dollars, and now we pay 1000s more in our electric bills.”

The rally also included a special guest appearance by John Legend, who joined the candidates as they make their final push ahead of Election Day.

969The artist visited several small businesses in the area to support the campaign, saying the Springfield native had the chance to come home and support his community.

“My parents believed that with faith and hard work, they could open doors for their children. And because of their sacrifices, a little boy from Springfield, Ohio, got to dream big,” he said. “That is the promise of America. That's the American dream. That's the opportunity that I want for every Ohio child, every Ohio family. And that is the kind of Ohio I believe we can build together. Everyone deserves a chance to get a good job. Everyone deserves a chance to get a home you can afford. Everyone deserves to have good schools for their children.

Acton and Brown are expected to continue campaigning with more events across the state in the week leading up to the midterm election.

Their next stop is Youngstown, which will be followed by a visit in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Toledo on Thursday, Cleveland on Sunday and Columbus on Monday,