Ramaswamy Ends Run of Ad Featuring Rival's Estranged Mother

Ramaswamy Ends Run of Ad Featuring Rival's Estranged Mother

Controversial spot leaves the airwaves after planned run

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign for Ohio governor confirmed on Oct. 29 that its controversial ad starring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton, has stopped airing. The campaign said the spot had completed its intended run and was rotating out, with six other ads currently on the air in the race's final days.

Minute-long ad called Acton a liar in $4 million buy

The ad debuted the week of Oct. 19 as a minute-long spot backed by a $4 million television and streaming buy, later trimmed to a 30-second version. In it, Arthur calls her daughter a "liar" who has "lied her entire life," says she needs "serious help," and urges Ohioans not to make her governor. The video first circulated online without the standard paid-for disclaimer, which was added later.

Acton points to childhood abuse record backed by documents

Acton, a physician and Ohio's former public health director, says she has not seen her mother since around age 12, after her stepfather sexually abused her and faced criminal charges while her mother sided with him. She and her brother were removed from their mother's custody. Her brother, Philip Stearns, issued a statement confirming the account, and a records review by fact-checkers found documents supporting Acton's version of her childhood.

Bipartisan condemnation, with DeWine urging removal

The ad drew condemnation from both parties. Term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who has endorsed Ramaswamy, publicly called for the ad to come down. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended it: Trump said he told Ramaswamy to leave it on the air and called Acton "fair game."

Polls suggest backlash hurt Ramaswamy more than Acton

A Suffolk University-USA TODAY poll of 500 likely voters, conducted Oct. 21-26 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 points, found Acton leading Ramaswamy 48% to 44%, with Libertarian Don Kissick at 3.6%. Ramaswamy's unfavorable rating rose to 54.2% from 52.2% a month earlier, while Acton's held steady at 41%. Among independents, Acton took 58% to Ramaswamy's 25%, with Kissick at 7%. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball have both moved the race from toss-up to lean Democrat.

Acton campaign calls spot despicable, notes no apology

Acton's campaign called the ad "despicable," saying it should never have run and noting that Ramaswamy pulled it without any apology to Acton, her family, or Ohio voters. Ramaswamy, speaking in Vandalia, said he wanted the campaign's closing days to be about policy and fighting for Ohioans rather than about 30-second ads.

Six replacement ads take over for the final stretch

With Election Day days away, the Ramaswamy campaign says six replacement spots are running, refocusing on the economy and governance. Acton's team is pressing its advantage, framing the episode as a character test its opponent failed. Whether a family ad that both parties condemned truly reshaped the race will be settled at the ballot box.