Ramaswamy Ad Featuring Opponent’s Estranged Mother Ignites Backlash in Ohio Governor’s Race
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has released a campaign ad that features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, accusing her daughter of lying about past sexual abuse. The ad, confirmed by Ramaswamy during a campaign stop at Crosspointe Church in Westerville, Ohio, has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. In the video, Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, urges Ohioans not to vote for her daughter and claims Acton is lying about the abuse allegations. Acton has publicly shared accusations that her mother’s husband at the time sexually abused her when she was a child. According to Acton’s campaign, a court date remains the last time Acton saw her mother.nnThe ad’s release has sparked outrage, with former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley calling Ramaswamy “a bad guy” in a social media post on Tuesday. Haley, who sparred with Ramaswamy during the 2024 Republican primary over the personal nature of his attacks, added her voice to the growing chorus of condemnation. Casey Putsch, who faced Ramaswamy in Ohio’s gubernatorial primary, also criticized the ad, saying, “Damn, that’s pretty damn low,” and accusing the campaign of manipulating Arthur to participate. The backlash highlights the increasingly personal and contentious nature of the Ohio governor’s race.nnActon’s allegations of sexual abuse as a child are deeply troubling. Despite the accusations, Arthur remained married to her husband and eventually fled the state with him to evade the law, leaving Acton and her brother to live with their biological father, as Acton has previously shared. The ad’s use of Arthur to attack her daughter has raised questions about the ethics of political advertising and the exploitation of personal trauma for political gain. Ramaswamy’s campaign has not commented on the criticism, but the candidate himself confirmed the ad was produced by his campaign.nnThe controversy comes as the Ohio governor’s race heats up, with Ramaswamy and Acton vying for the state’s top office. The ad’s focus on Acton’s personal history rather than policy issues has been criticized as a distraction from the real issues facing Ohio voters. As the race continues, it remains to be seen
Shimanta Das 
