Ohio Democrat Amy Acton Posed as Moderate Despite Grants to Left-Wing Groups
While Democrat Amy Acton was responsible for grants to the Columbus Foundation, records show the foundation administered millions of dollars in 2017 and 2018 to organizations involved in abortion services, civil liberties litigation, immigration and refugee services, diversity initiatives, climate activism and Muslim advocacy.
Acton, who is running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, worked for less than two years as a grants manager at the Columbus Foundation, a major 501(c)(3) charitable organization that administers donor funds and distributes grants.
In 2017, the Columbus Foundation administered $272,666 in grants to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, a nonprofit organization that provides abortions. In 2018, the foundation administered an additional $243,951 to the same organization.
The foundation too administered $77,915 in grants to the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio in 2017 and $1,000,000 in 2018. The National ACLU said“due process and equal protection” apply to every person “regardless of immigration status”, states that it aims “to address the roots of racial injustice”, “defends the right of transgender people to be themselves” and describes Roe v. Wade like the case that guaranteed “a woman’s right to abortion”.
Another beneficiary was Food & Water Watch, which received $8,050,000 in grants administered by the Columbus Foundation in 2018. Food & Water Watch said that it “fights for sustainable food, clean water, and a livable climate for all of us” and that it works to protect people from “corporations and other destructive economic interests that put profit above all else.” The group also asserts that “people of all races, religions, genders and sexual orientations deserve fair treatment as well as equitable opportunities and outcomes.”
The Columbus Foundation also administered grants to the Harmony Project, which received $572,556 in 2017 And $598,500 in 2018. The group said that its mission is to “build a more connected community by breaking down social barriers, bridging community divides, and giving people a voice through the arts, education, and volunteerism.”
Besa Community, Inc. received $58,558 in 2017 And $91,500 in 2018. Bésa said that it believes “diversity strengthens our community,” adding that its “mission is rooted in the idea that bringing diverse groups of people together drives innovation and change.”
The Northeast Ohio Diversity Center received $49,150 in 2017 and said its mission is to “empower people and organizations to embrace all forms of diversity and create communities where everyone belongs.”
CAIR Ohio received $50,000 in 2017 And $75,000 in 2018 from grants administered by the Columbus Foundation, according to IRS records provided. CAIR Ohio said that, “through legal representation, education, media relations, and advocacy,” it works to “empower the American Muslim community and encourage participation in political and social activism.” The group also says it advises, mediates, and advocates for “Muslims and others who have been victims of discrimination, harassment, or hate crimes.”
CAIR subsequently received state-level designations from the Republican governors of Texas and Florida. November 18, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations, a move his office said would allow enhanced enforcement action against the organizations and their affiliates in Texas and prohibit them from purchasing or acquiring land in the state. Abbott’s proclamation describes CAIR as an Islamist organization and quotes the FBI as saying it was founded as a “front group” for “Hamas and its support network” in the United States.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) follow up on December 8, 2025, by a decree designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations for the purposes of this decree. CAIR-Florida and CAIR National responded by reporting legal action and calling the order “unconstitutional and defamatory” after CAIR also filed a federal lawsuit against Abbott over his Texas designation.
The Columbus Foundation also administered money to immigrant and refugee aid groups during Acton’s time there. Community Refugee and Immigration Services received $47,057 in 2017. The group describe its mission is to help “refugees and immigrants achieve safety and stability, maintain self-sufficiency, and successfully integrate into the central Ohio community.”
The Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) Foundation received $5,000 in 2017 And $61,700 in 2018. ETSS said that it “began in 2000 as an outreach organization focused on the Ethiopian refugee and immigrant community.” Twenty years later, it served “individuals and families from more than 100 countries and cultures” through programs including academic, cultural and social after-school and summer programs, ESOL, job preparation and placement, and family and community navigation for health and mental well-being.
The Columbus Foundation also administered $50,000 in 2017 to the Foundation for National Progress, which publishes Mother Jones. InfluenceWatch describe the foundation as a “center-left nonprofit organization” that “publishes and supports the social-democratic opinion and news magazine Mother Jones” and “supports the development of center-left journalists writing for the publication.”
Acton’s record on abortion also put her at odds with some Ohio pro-life activists. The Ohio Right to Life Action Coalition »canceled his endorsement of DeWine in November 2020 for his nomination of Acton,” according to the Coshocton Tribune. The report also said the coalition criticized DeWine “for allowing abortion clinics to remain open amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while the state health department had halted elective surgeries and closed many businesses as part of his stay-at-home order.”
Acton has since received support from abortion rights advocates. In November 2025, EMILY’s List approved Acton for Ohio Governor, EMILY’s List President Jessica Mackler said the group is “excited to support Amy and work with her to win this race.”
Also that month, Acton used social media to denounce the Ohio legislature’s passage of a bill requiring middle and high school students to watch an anti-abortion video.
Breitbart News reached out to Acton’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response.
