Attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother sparks controversy in Ohio governor race

An attack advertisement that aired on social media on Monday night features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton, accusing her daughter of lying about her past. The spot, whose sponsor is unknown, also defends GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

"It's not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy was a serious problem. She is a liar; she lies about her past," Arthur says in the ad.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, responded that the ad represents a “despicable low,” alleging that Ramaswamy is using Acton's childhood sexual abuse as a political talking point.

"It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother's husband into a political talking point," Stearns said.

The ad, which has not been broadcast on television or cable, lacks the required disclosure of who paid for and authorized it. A spokesperson for Ramaswamy, Connie Luck, declined to comment on campaign involvement but issued a statement asserting that Acton is a “serial fabulist” with “serious problems with the truth.” The state Republican Party did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Acton, who served as Ohio’s public health commissioner under Governor Mike DeWine, has previously disclosed that she was abused by her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, who was charged with raping her in 1978 when she was between 10 and 12 years old. Court records show Arthur entered a not-guilty plea, and the case was never resolved. Acton’s campaign notes that she has not seen her mother since a courthouse encounter following the charges.

The controversy adds to a series of personal attacks on Acton, including a 2019 domestic-dispute incident that also resurfaced during the campaign.