Ohio gubernatorial race heats up as Ramaswamy's ad targeting Amy Acton draws intra-party criticism
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Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's television spot featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother has sparked backlash from senior Ohio Republicans, while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended the ad.
A television advertisement released by Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has ignited controversy within his own party less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. The spot features Donna Arthur, who says she is Acton's mother, accusing the Democratic opponent of lying about her childhood and alleging a mental-health problem. The ad also disputes Acton's account of childhood homelessness, despite court records and news reports supporting her version of events.
Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed responsibility for the ad and said it will spend $4 million promoting it. Acton's campaign responded with a statement recounting her upbringing and a counter-advertisement that includes her brother, Phil Stearns, describing the abuse the family endured.
President Donald Trump described the ad as “very powerful” and said he encouraged Ramaswamy to continue running it. Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans to focus on winning elections rather than “whining” about the controversy. By contrast, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who endorsed Ramaswamy, called the advertisement “deeply, deeply troubling” and urged its withdrawal, while Ohio Senator Jon Husted has also distanced himself from the spot.
Political scientists noted the ad marks an unusual level of personal attack in Ohio campaigns. "We’ve seen family members used before but not in such a deeply personal way," said David Niven, a professor at the University of Cincinnati. Communication professor Jerry Miller warned that negative attacks can backfire, especially among survivors of sexual abuse, and could generate sympathy for Acton.
The dispute comes as recent polls show Acton leading, and the Cook Political Report recently shifted its assessment from a toss-up to leaning toward Acton, citing the fallout from the advertisement. The controversy has also spurred additional fundraising for Acton, including a $500,000 contribution from MK Pritzker.
Analysts say the ad has become a major factor in the campaign, independent of other issues, and its impact on undecided voters remains uncertain.