Former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton announced on Tuesday that she’s running for governor, becoming the first Democrat to enter the race to replace term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine (R).

“I’m a doctor, not a politician,” she said in a statement announcing her candidacy. “I solve problems by bringing people together regardless of party to find solutions. So unlike most of our leaders I know the answer to moving our state forward isn’t giving politicians more power, it’s giving people more freedom.”

“Today, I filed papers to run for Governor because I refuse to look away from Ohioans who are struggling while self-serving politicians and special interests take our state in the wrong direction,” she added. “It’s time to give power back to the people and our communities. It’s time for a change.”

Acton drew praise during the COVID-pandemic as the state’s health director as she helped the Buckeye State navigate the coronavirus, particularly her press briefings, which received acclaim. Despite serving in DeWine’s administration, she also drew ire from some Ohioans angry at some of the measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus, later resigning from her post to become a health advisor to DeWine.

Other Democrats that could potentially run include Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo and former Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio), among others.

On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost are likely to emerge as contenders, though an open question is which person DeWine will appoint to fill the remainder of Vice President-elect JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) Senate seat, which could change the makeup of the primary.

Ohio has become increasingly tough political terrain for Democrats. Ryan lost a bid against Vance for an open Senate seat in 2022 after Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) retired. President-elect Trump won Ohio in November by 11 points, expanding his margin from 2020, when he won by 8 points.

The last time Ohio elected a Democrat for governor was in 2006 when former Gov. Ted Strickland (D) won the seat before losing reelection to Republican and former Gov. John Kasich.