Amy Acton, the 2026 Democratic nominee for governor, speaks at a press conference in her hometown of Bexley, Ohio on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. Credit: Jeremy Pelzer via TNS.
A reporter for The Lantern was denied entry to a campaign event featuring gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the WOSU building near campus Wednesday.
Cameron Dewey, a second-year in journalism and a Lantern reporter, said that she went to the entrance and explained to the person at the door that she was there to cover the event on Wednesday. They told Dewey that it was a private event space and closed to the press.
“The guy basically said that this is a closed, private event, and when I first walked in, he was just like, ‘no backpacks inside. Go over there. That’s where the event is,’” Dewey said. “I [could] see everyone in there. But once I said I was with the press, he said I wasn’t allowed in.”
Acton, a Democrat, is locked in a tight race with Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to succeed outgoing Gov. Mike Dewine.?
Dewey reached out to Acton’s media team asking if she and a Lantern photographer could cover the event. The media team responded on Tuesday and said that the event is closed to the press.
Acton was at WOSU for a meet and greet and to speak. The event was in collaboration with The Ohio State College Democrats, according to the event website.
Dewey said that she registered to attend the event before arriving.
The Lantern reached out to Acton’s team to clarify why the press was not allowed at the event, and they reiterated that the event was closed to the press.
“We’d be happy to add you to our press list for other events. Just provide us the correct emails to add and we can make it happen,” Acton’s media team stated in an email.
This is a breaking story and The Lantern will update as more information is obtained.?
