Venues Drop Vivek Ramaswamy Campaign Stops Amid Backlash Over Estranged Mother Ad

Multiple venues are reportedly withdrawing from hosting events for Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy following significant backlash over a campaign advertisement. The ad features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, accusing her daughter of misrepresenting her childhood.

The advertisement, for which Ramaswamy's team later took credit, includes comments from Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, urging voters not to elect her daughter governor. This has led to at least two venues canceling scheduled campaign stops, with reports of further disruptions to Ramaswamy's statewide bus tour.

The controversy stems from the ad's use of Arthur's testimony, which has drawn criticism due to the background of Acton's family. Acton and her brother have stated that their mother remained with their stepfather after he was charged with child molestation and reportedly abused Acton, who was under 13 at the time.

Specific cancellations include an event at Old Dog Ale House & Brewery in Delaware and a planned appearance at CrossPointe Church in Westerville. A scheduled stop in Trumbull County was also reportedly left without a venue. A Republican source told Zeteo that the cancellations are directly linked to "that damn ad."

Ramaswamy has defended the advertisement, asserting that it addresses Acton's credibility rather than her childhood abuse. In a recent Fox News interview, he characterized his opponent as "crazy, unstable and dishonest." He also suggested that Acton's refusal to participate in debates indicated a lack of confidence in her position.

Acton's brother, Phillip Stearns, has accused Ramaswamy of exploiting his sister's history of childhood sexual abuse for political gain. Acton herself has spoken about enduring abuse from her mother's husband between the ages of nine and 12, and subsequently pressing charges against both individuals.

The ad also disputes Acton's account of living in a tent, a detail she has shared to illustrate her experiences with abuse, neglect, and instability before moving in with her father at age 12. Following the ad's release, political analyses, including Sabato's Crystal Ball, have shifted the race's outlook towards Democrats. A recent Fox News poll indicated Acton leading Ramaswamy by a narrow margin.