Ramaswamy Pulls Ohio Attack Ad Featuring Acton’s Estranged Mother

Republican Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy discontinued an attack ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton after bipartisan criticism and polling indicated broad voter disapproval.

In the ad, Donna Arthur called her daughter a “liar” and said she had a “serious problem.” Acton has said she has not spoken with Arthur since age 12, when Acton and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody after their stepfather was accused of sexually abusing Acton. Acton said Arthur failed to protect her and described Ramaswamy’s use of her mother in the campaign as exploitative.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who endorsed Ramaswamy, called the commercial “deeply disturbing” and urged the campaign to remove it. Other Republicans also criticized the ad, while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy.

Ramaswamy said Thursday that his campaign had discontinued the commercial. An Acton campaign spokesperson criticized him for airing it and for removing it without apologizing.

A Republican firm’s surveys, cited by Truthout, showed Acton moving from a 47%-45% lead before the ad aired to a 50%-42% advantage afterward. That represents a six-point shift in the margin, though the polling alone does not establish that the ad caused the change. A separate YouGov finding reported that most registered voters disapproved of the commercial.