Ramaswamy faces backlash over ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed that his campaign produced an attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton. In the video, Arthur calls her daughter a liar, disputes Acton’s account of her childhood and urges voters not to elect her.

Acton said she has not seen her mother since 1978, when Acton was 12. She denied lying and told ABC 6 that she testified before a grand jury after suffering childhood abuse. ABC 6 reported that court records support much of Acton’s account, including allegations of abuse by her stepfather and that her mother and stepfather were arrested while living in a tent.

Acton criticized the campaign for featuring a woman she described as unwell. Her brother, Phil Stearns, appeared in a response ad and said Acton suffered abuse during childhood. Ramaswamy told reporters that Arthur was neither coached nor paid, and said he wanted the campaign to focus on policy issues and accused Acton of refusing to debate him.

The ad drew criticism, including from Republicans, while Vice President JD Vance dismissed the complaints by telling critics to “stop whining,” according to Politico. Newsweek reported that prediction-market estimates for Ramaswamy fell sharply amid the backlash, reaching 26.8% on Kalshi and 22% on Polymarket Tuesday afternoon. Those market prices are not election results or conventional polling.