Ramaswamy Campaign Confirms Ad Featuring Amy Acton's Estranged Mother

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign for Ohio governor says it produced a television ad featuring the mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The ad has drawn criticism from both parties.

The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton's birth mother. In it, Arthur calls Acton "a liar" and suggests that Acton has mental health issues, the Associated Press reported. Acton has said she and her mother have been estranged since Acton was abused as a child by her stepfather. NPR reported on the ad on October 21, 2026.

Ramaswamy has confirmed the ad came from his campaign and has defended it. A CBS News report said he doubled down on the ad. The AP reported that he takes responsibility for it and will spend millions of dollars to promote it. Axios reported that the campaign is putting $4 million into the ad.

The campaign's role was also described by PBS NewsHour, which reported that Arthur lost custody of her children. PBS also reported that Acton, Ohio's former public health director, has spoken openly about facing homelessness and abuse as a child.

Acton responded on October 20. In remarks reported by WOSU, she said Ramaswamy had stooped to a despicable low by trying to turn the sexual abuse she endured at age 12 into an attack. Her campaign has released its own ad in response. It features her brother, Philip Stearns, who recounts childhood abuse, the BBC reported.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear criticized the ad in a post on X. He wrote that JD Vance had defended the ad. Beshear's post describes Arthur as having stayed with a husband who was indicted for raping Acton, according to the post. Vance said he was "disgusted" by Republican pushback against the ad, the AP reported.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Acton has repeatedly said she endured abuse, and that the ad has roiled the race for Ohio governor.