Will Amy Acton Lose This Democrat Candidate’s Support Over Protecting Women’s Sports?

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton called the Supreme Court’s decision on protecting women’s sports “settled law,” but many on her left disagree—and now they’re making demands.

Some candidates and caucuses are taking issue with Acton’s words and are seeking to meet with the Democrat nominee.

Arienne Childrey, who is transgender, is meeting with Acton on July 28, according to the Toledo Blade. If the meeting doesn’t go a certain way, Childrey may support the Libertarian candidate for governor, Don Kissick.

Childrey hopes to address Acton’s view on women’s sports and will demand that she hire a transgender staff member for her campaign.

“First and foremost, I want to hear a correction to the actual terminology,” said Childrey, who is running against Republican state Rep. Angie King in Ohio’s 84th District. “There are no boys in girls’ sports. Even before this law was passed, there were no boys in girls’ sports, because trans girls are girls.”

Childrey was referring to HB 68, which went into effect in 2024 after the Legislature overrode a December 2023 veto from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

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“I want her to drop the ‘settled law’ argument and point-blank state that the law, as passed, is wrong and that she will stand with the community—and that if such a bill came to her desk to undo that, she would sign it,” Childrey said.

According to the Toledo Blade, Childrey noted that the Supreme Court “only decided that states are permitted to ban transgender women and girls from women’s and girls’ sports—not that states are required to do so.”

The issue might not be over in Ohio. Dave Yost, Ohio’s former attorney general and current vice president of strategic research at Alliance Defending Freedom, told the Daily Signal that an effort from the American Civil Liberties Union argues the issue based on the Health Care Freedom Amendment, a state constitutional provision passed in 2011.

Childrey’s comments to the Daily Signal did not address questions asked about that effort.

“I look forward to hearing from Dr. Acton’s team and sincerely hope they’ll make a sincere effort to make this right, Childrey said. “I believe being a Democrat means standing for liberty and justice for all. At this time, I’m going to save further comment until the meeting has taken place.”

Childrey wants these requests to be fulfilled in public.

“You made a public statement that publicly hurt my community. Your apology needs to likewise be public. Otherwise, you can count me as a Don Kissick voter,” the candidate said, according to the Toledo Blade.

The Kissick and Acton campaigns did not respond to the Daily Signal’s request for comment.

Kissick, however, posted the Toledo Blade article to his campaign’s Facebook account.

After the Toledo Blade article was published, Childrey’s Facebook account further addressed the matter, clarifying a desire to still be able to support Acton.

Childrey is running against King, a Republican who represents the 84th District. King provided the Daily Signal with a statement about protecting women’s sports.

“Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports undermines fair competitions and raises legitimate concerns about the safety and privacy of female athletes,” King said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done in Ohio to protect women’s sports. I will always oppose the extreme agenda that undermines female athletes and their right to private spaces.”

The state representative also pointed out that Ohio law “recognizes two sexes, male and female, and provides that these classifications are not changeable under state law.”

“It’s disappointing that we’ve reached a point in society where the basic definition of woman is debated and the state Legislature must act provide clarity in the law,” King said.

Childrey is not the only one giving Acton grief for her comments. Earlier this month, the Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus released a fired-up statement taking issue with Acton’s comments and threatening to act.

That statement, initially posted to Facebook, was later taken down.

In a subsequent post on Monday, the Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus explained that it had to take down its initial post after being told by the Ohio Democratic Party that it had failed to go through the official approval process.

While the caucus looked to submit its removed post “through the proper channels so that it could be reposted,” a meeting with Acton was discussed, and caucus leadership grew ever-more determined to meet up.

The caucus called it “a good sign” that Acton has agreed to meet with it.