Illustration: Vivek Ramaswamy (left) and Amy Acton, candidates for Ohio governor.
Ohio’s governor race, already one of the most expensive in the country, just became intensely personal. A one-minute video began spreading online Monday night. By Tuesday, the campaign it benefited had put its name on it.
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed that his campaign produced an attack ad featuring Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s mother, who calls her daughter a “liar.” The campaign says it will spend $4 million to air the ad despite criticism from both parties.
What’s in the ad?
The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton’s biological mother, who has been estranged from her daughter. She accuses Acton of lying about her childhood and suggests she has mental health problems. She also says she loves her daughter, but felt compelled to speak out after seeing Acton criticize her opponent.
How did the ad come out?
The rollout itself became part of the story.
- The video circulated on social media Monday night without the mandatory disclosure of who paid for it, so its origin was unclear at first.
- On Tuesday, the campaign at first said only that Ohioans “deserve to know” what Acton’s mother says, without confirming involvement.
- Later that day, Ramaswamy told reporters the ad came from his campaign.
What does Ramaswamy say?
Ramaswamy says Acton’s mother was not coached or paid, that he has never met her, and that her criticism of Acton is not new. He argued that people who know Acton best are telling voters to support him instead, and called the ad “legitimate.”
What does Amy Acton say?
Acton has spoken publicly for years about a difficult childhood. She told Spectrum News that she was removed from her birth mother’s custody at age 12 because of severe abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse, and said she won’t “normalize” a campaign that dismisses her childhood. She also accused Ramaswamy of a “lifelong pattern” of personal attacks on opponents.
What does Acton’s brother say?
Her brother, Philip Stearns, called the ad “despicable.” He said that after their stepfather was arrested and charged, he and Acton were removed from their mother’s custody, and that their mother stayed married to the man until he died. Acton’s campaign has since released its own ad featuring Stearns.
Reaction beyond the candidates
The ad drew backlash from Democrats and some Republicans for its deeply personal nature. Whether the criticism sticks with voters is a different question, and the next polls will be the first real test.
Where does the Ohio governor race stand?
A New York Times/Siena poll released earlier this month showed Acton with a narrow lead over Ramaswamy. Acton’s campaign has also cited “baseless lies about her and her family” as the reason she declined to debate Ramaswamy. With election day weeks away, a $4 million buy means the ad will be hard to miss across Ohio.
Sources
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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