A television advertisement funded by Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign has drawn sharp criticism from within the Republican party, with critics calling it "sick" and "troubling."
The ad features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democrat Amy Acton, Ramaswamy's opponent in the Ohio gubernatorial race. In the ad, Arthur makes accusations against her daughter, including insinuating mental health issues and stating Acton has "lied her entire life."
Notably absent from the ad's narrative is the context that Arthur lost custody of her children after Acton's stepfather was charged with child sexual abuse. Acton's mother reportedly abandoned her children and sided with her husband, remaining with him until his death in 2004. Acton herself has spoken publicly about experiencing homelessness and abuse during her childhood.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) publicly urged Ramaswamy to remove the ad, stating on Thursday that "It's wrong to run this ad" and calling it "deeply, deeply troubling."
Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) defended the ad, dismissing concerns from fellow Republicans as "whining." Vance argued on Wednesday that the focus should be on Democratic policies rather than the advertisement.
However, conservative commentator Scott Jennings countered Vance's assessment, describing the backlash not as "whining" but as a "warning." Speaking on CNN's "NewsNight," Jennings stated that many Republicans in Ohio and elsewhere believe the ad is indefensible and a poor strategy, predicting it could "blow up in their face."