Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH) has confirmed that his campaign created a commercial in which his Democratic rival’s estranged mother accuses her daughter of dishonesty, drawing condemnation from politicians and commentators across party lines.
The 60-second video puts Donna Arthur, the biological mother of Amy Acton (D-OH), at the center of an attack on her daughter’s credibility. Arthur tells Ohio voters they should not elect Acton governor.
The commercial has also reopened questions about a childhood Acton has publicly described in painful detail, including alleged sexual abuse by her stepfather and the circumstances that separated her from Arthur at age 12.
On Tuesday evening, Ramaswamy acknowledged the advertisement’s origins when reporters questioned him about it.
It was “an ad from our campaign,” he confirmed, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Ramaswamy argued that Arthur’s participation gave voters reason to question Acton, citing criticism from people he characterized as personally familiar with his opponent.
“Every person who appears to know her the best … have told voters not to vote for her but to vote for me instead,” he maintained.
Axios reported a $4 million statewide advertising commitment behind the commercial. The campaign began distributing the video online Monday night and intends to bring it to television audiences before Election Day.
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The question of whether Arthur was compensated drew a denial from Ramaswamy’s team. A spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that she appeared without payment.
Separately, the spokesperson attacked Acton’s credibility, labeling her a “serial fabulist” and arguing that voters should consider her alleged dishonesty before choosing their next governor.
“I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent — it is not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar,” Arthur declares in the advertisement.
Arthur also challenges Acton’s recollection of spending part of her childhood living in a tent, disputing the account before delivering a warning to Ohio voters.
“Don’t let her become your governor,” she added. “If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself.”
Acton has answered by questioning the decision to bring their long-estranged relationship into the governor’s race.
During a Tuesday appearance on Spectrum News, Acton objected to Ramaswamy turning her childhood experiences into campaign material. She explained that she had been taken from Arthur’s care at age 12 following severe abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse.
“I won’t normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is just something I’m complaining about,” Acton declared.
She places her last encounter with Arthur during her parents’ divorce proceedings, when Acton was still 12. She also maintains that her mother is not well and objects to the campaign involving her in the political dispute.
“It’s awful to see her this way, and it’s even more incredible to see that my opponent (Ramaswamy) has taken advantage of someone who’s clearly not well, who is older, and this is totally in line with who he is,” Acton told Spectrum News.
Acton described Ramaswamy’s conduct as a “lifelong pattern,” linking the advertisement to other personal criticism she says he has directed at political opponents.
Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, said he and his sister were removed from Arthur’s care after their stepfather’s arrest. He maintains that their mother remained married to the man accused of abusing Acton until his death.
The stepfather’s failure to appear for a court hearing left him a fugitive until 1981, according to proceedings described by The Associated Press.
His legal troubles stemmed from allegations that he sexually abused Acton when she was 12. A grand jury indicted him in 1978, and he pleaded not guilty.
Those proceedings, as described in the reporting, do not establish a conviction.
Stearns addressed the campaign’s use of his sister’s childhood in comments provided to CBS News.
“It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point,” he said.
He accused Ramaswamy of using the family’s history to gain an advantage in the closely contested election.
“Shame on Vivek,” Stearns declared. “It’s the contempt he has for Amy. It’s the contempt he has for Ohio. He’s not fit to lead.”
Acton has separately defended her childhood account in an interview with WOSU, maintaining that court documentation corroborates her recollection of living in a tent. She also asserted that Arthur was eventually arrested at that location.
Republicans and Democrats have both objected to the campaign’s decision to feature Arthur.
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain, whose father was the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), directed her criticism toward the people who developed the commercial.
“It never should have been created,” she wrote online. “Shame on whatever consultant firm created this.”
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) called it “one of the most despicable things I’ve ever seen in politics.”
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) also criticized Ramaswamy, joining the Democratic Governors Association in rejecting the advertisement.
“The people of Ohio deserve so much better than the likes of Vivek Ramaswamy,” Healey posted.
Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown described the commercial as “disgusting” and called on his Republican opponent, Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), to condemn it publicly.
Donald Trump Jr. shared Arthur’s accusations on X and encouraged Ohio voters to “watch this and think about what it means.”
Laura Loomer likewise expressed support for the woman featured in the advertisement, writing that she was “on the side of Amy’s mother.”
