NEW POLL: Dr. Amy Acton Proves Strongest Democratic Recruit in Ohio U.S. Senate Race

Polling from 314 Action Fund Shows Dr. Acton Leading Competitors by over 20% in Net Favorability

March 22, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund released the results of new polling that shows Dr. Amy Acton with strong leads in net favorability over potential Republian and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Ohio, including decisive data proving that Dr. Acton is far and away the strongest potential Democratic candidate.

The poll, which was performed by Public Policy Polling on behalf of 314 Action Fund and polled Democratic, Republican, and independent voters across Ohio, shows Dr. Amy Acton with a 23% lead in net favorability over Congressman Tim Ryan, +19% to -4%. The poll also shows Dr. Acton with significant net favorability leads over declared or potential Republican candidates Jane Timken, Josh Mandel, and JD Vance—who have net favorability ratings of -2%, -9%, and -10% respectively. The polling shows Dr. Acton beating or tying each of the potential GOP candidates, while Congressman Tim Ryan loses in each match-up. As things stand, Dr. Amy Acton is the only potential candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio with a net positive favorability rating.

Additionally, the polling shows that a majority of Ohio voters approve of Ohio’s response to COVID-19, with 55% approval of the state’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and 53% approval of a mask mandate.

The margin of error of this poll is +/- 3.7%, and the toplines can be viewed here.

“Ohio voters are making themselves perfectly clear: there is little interest in electing a career politician in this critical U.S. Senate race, and Dr. Amy Acton is the only candidate who can flip this seat blue in 2022,” said Joshua Morrow, Executive Director of 314 Action Fund. “If Democrats are serious about winning statewide in Ohio, then it’s time to ditch the status quo. The numbers don’t lie—Amy is the only person who can get the job done.”

Last week, 314 Action released the results of new polling that positioned Dr. Amy Acton with strong favorability and an early lead among Democratic primary voters in Ohio.  That polling showed Dr. Acton with a 24% lead in net favorability over Congressman Tim Ryan, with 79% of Ohio Democratic primary voters approving of the state’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and with 86% of respondents holding favorable opinions of scientists and public health professionals.

Earlier this month, 314 Action Fund began circulating a petition at RunAmy.Run where signers can encourage Dr. Acton to jump into the Ohio U.S. Senate race and pledge their support. This six-figure digital investment will serve as the foundation for building the strong grassroots base necessary for Dr. Acton to run and win. 

Should Dr. Acton enter the race, 314 Action Fund is committed to using its vast resources and six-million-strong membership base of grassroots donors to ensure that she is the Democratic nominee in this crucial race. During the 2020 election cycle, 314 Action Fund collected hundreds of thousands of signatures to successfully draft scientists Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. John Hickenlooper to run for U.S. Senate and raised millions of dollars in grassroots donations for their campaigns. In the same cycle, 314 Action Fund’s independent expenditure arm spent over $11.5 million, including significant expenditures in several primary contests.

In 2022, 314 Action Fund will aim to spend $50 million to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, thirty-nine U.S. House races, and twenty-one statewide races. In 2020, the organization spent $25 million on behalf of its endorsed candidates and raised a total of $5 million in grassroots donations for scientists running for office.

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314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of nearly six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. In 2018 and 2020, we played a pivotal role in flipping the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, electing eleven Democratic scientists to federal office, as well as over 100 to key legislative districts. In 2021 and 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.