Ohio Governor Urges GOP Candidate to Withdraw Controversial Attack Ad
Gov. Mike DeWine asked Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy to pull a TV spot that features the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, while continuing his endorsement of Ramaswamy.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters in Columbus that the television advertisement released by Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, which shows Amy Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar, is "deeply, deeply troubling" and should be removed. > "I would just urge the Ramaswamy campaign to take this down," DeWine said, adding that he would still support the candidate.
The ad has sparked criticism from several Ohio Republicans, including former state senator Jon Husted, who said he would not have approved the spot. Vice President JD Vance, a former Ohio senator, responded by dismissing complaints about the ad, calling the backlash "whining" and emphasizing the importance of winning the race.
Ramaswamy’s campaign defended the advertisement, citing a statement from campaign spokesperson Connie Luck that accused Acton’s campaign of previously attacking Ramaswamy’s mother. The campaign has not indicated plans to withdraw the ad.
The controversy comes as the gubernatorial race has tightened, with recent polling from The Cook Political Report showing Ramaswamy trailing Acton by five points and Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifting its rating to "leans Democratic."