Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, publicly criticized an attack advertisement released by her Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, making allegations about her daughter’s character. Acton characterized the campaign material as despicable during a Wednesday evening campaign event, while emphasizing her own restraint in not targeting her opponent’s family members.
The advertisement has generated substantial controversy across party lines. The ad omits significant context regarding Acton’s family history, specifically that her mother’s husband was charged with raping Acton during her childhood and that Acton and her brother were subsequently removed from their mother’s custody. According to Acton’s campaign, the last time Acton saw her mother was in a courtroom in 1978 following an indictment. Arthur’s husband fled the state before trial, was never prosecuted, and died in 2004.
The reaction to the ad has created complications for Ramaswamy’s campaign. Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who previously endorsed Ramaswamy, reportedly described the advertisement as deeply troubling and called for its removal. Jim Renacci, a former Republican Ohio Congressman, suggested the ad may have damaged the Republican gubernatorial campaign. In contrast, President Trump defended both the ad and Ramaswamy on social media, urging continued attacks and criticizing DeWine.
Vice-President JD Vance stated he was “a little bit disgusted” by Republican criticism of the ad but urged party members to stop complaining. Meanwhile, the Columbus Dispatch editorial board endorsed Acton after the ad’s release, characterizing it as “revolting and unsettling.” Additionally, MK Pritzker, wife of Illinois’s Democratic governor, announced a $500,000 donation to Acton’s campaign. Ramaswamy’s campaign stated it would spend $4 million to air the advertisement statewide. A Thursday poll showed Acton leading by 1 percentage point, within the margin of error.
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