Ramaswamy Claims Responsibility for Ad Featuring Opponent's Estranged Mother

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has taken ownership of a campaign advertisement that prominently features the estranged birth mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The ad, which questions Acton's accounts of her childhood and upbringing, has drawn backlash from some within Ramaswamy's own party.

Ramaswamy confirmed the ad was produced by his campaign, stating that he wished the race would focus on substantive issues impacting Ohioans, but asserted that Acton has been "hiding from those issues." The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, disputing her daughter's claims about their family history and alleging that Acton lied about experiencing poverty and sometimes living in a tent. Arthur concludes the ad by urging voters not to elect Acton governor.

The campaign stated that Arthur was not paid for her appearance in the ad, which began circulating online on October 19. The advertisement is part of a planned $4 million advertising push across television and streaming platforms, with the campaign asserting it tested well with persuadable voters.

The controversy touches on deeply personal experiences Acton has shared publicly, including childhood sexual abuse by her stepfather. Court records indicate the man was charged and indicted in 1978 for raping Acton when she was 12 years old. He later became a fugitive after failing to appear in court. Acton and her brother were eventually removed from their mother's custody. Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, has defended his sister's account and condemned Ramaswamy's use of their family history.

Acton herself denounced the ad, stating she had not seen her mother since childhood and calling for leaders to stop normalizing such rhetoric. The criticism has extended beyond Acton's family, revealing divisions among Republicans. GOP strategist Scott Jennings described the ad as "extremely risky," suggesting the campaign may have underestimated the potential backlash. Other Republican figures, including former Trump adviser David Urban and conservative commentator Mary Katharine Ham, have also expressed reservations or questioned the ad's effectiveness. Conversely, Donald Trump Jr. shared the video on X, encouraging Ohioans to watch it.

Ramaswamy faced heckling at a campaign event on Tuesday evening from an attendee who shouted about the ad. The protester was escorted out by police. As of Tuesday, more than 676,000 Ohioans had already cast ballots in the election, according to the Associated Press. A mid-October Marist poll cited by Axios indicated Acton led Ramaswamy by a 50% to 43% margin among likely voters.