Ramaswamy Defends Campaign Ad Featuring Opponent's Estranged Mother

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, defended a controversial campaign advertisement that features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. Ramaswamy confirmed his campaign was behind the 1-minute ad, in which Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, calls her daughter a "liar" and disputes claims of abuse and childhood homelessness.

"I would love for this race and this election to be about the substantive issues that impact Ohioans, and unfortunately, Amy Acton has been hiding from those issues," Ramaswamy stated Tuesday night, as reported by The New York Post. He suggested the ad was a response to Acton’s refusal to debate and accusations he characterized as "defamatory, disparaging lies" about him and his family.

Ramaswamy told reporters that Arthur was not compensated for her participation in the ad and that he has never met her. Arthur, who has been estranged from Acton since 1978, stated in the ad, "She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life. My daughter needs help."

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, criticized Ramaswamy for using his sister's childhood sexual abuse as a political talking point. "This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core — a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants," Stearns said in a statement released by Acton's campaign.

Acton, who previously served as the Director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020, is currently leading Ramaswamy by a narrow margin in recent polling averages. Ohio has historically leaned Republican in gubernatorial elections, with only one Democratic governor elected since 1990.