Ohio GOP Ad Using Acton’s Mother Backfires Amid Family Rebuke

WHO:

NY Post - Dr. Amy Acton is a Democratic candidate for Ohio governor.

NY Post - Vivek Ramaswamy is a Republican candidate for Ohio governor.

Alternet - Acton is a former director of the Ohio Department of Health.

Alternet - The woman featured in the ad claimed to be Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur.

Alternet - Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, condemned the ad in a statement.

Alternet - Commentators responding to the ad included Pod Save America host Jon Favreau, pollster Natalie Jackson, Politico’s Jonathan Martin, former congressman Denver Lee Riggleman III, and Turning Point-affiliated Young Republicans chairman Brady Penman.

WHAT:

NY Post - An ad featuring a woman identified as Acton’s birth mother denounced Acton and warned voters against her. Acton’s campaign accused Ramaswamy of elevating an abuse enabler.

Alternet - The ad accused Acton of “lying” throughout her life, including about having lived in a tent during childhood.

Alternet - Acton and her family denounced the ad. Stearns said Ramaswamy was exploiting alleged childhood sexual abuse of his sister by their mother’s husband.

Alternet - Stearns called Ramaswamy “a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants.”

Alternet - Favreau called the ad “despicable beyond words.” Jackson called it “absolutely disgusting” and said Acton’s mother lost custody of her children after her husband abused Acton.

Alternet - Martin cited a new Marist poll showing Ramaswamy’s image at 37/53. Riggleman called the ad “Ludicrous and scumbag” and predicted it would backfire.

Alternet - Penman said using parents to run political attack ads against their children would be “inexcusable and disgusting,” and criticized Ramaswamy’s team for approving the ad.

WHERE:

NY Post - The gubernatorial campaign and controversy concern Ohio.

Alternet - Acton’s childhood abuse allegations concern events in her family; the article does not specify a location.

WHY:

Alternet - Acton’s family and critics said the ad exploited allegations of abuse and used her mother to attack her politically.

HOW:

Alternet - The ad circulated online and featured an elderly woman claiming to be Donna Arthur.

Alternet - The article reported that Acton has said her mother left town with her stepfather to avoid charges after he was investigated for molesting Acton when she was in middle school.

(UPDATED October 20, 2026 17:06 UTC)

An online campaign ad in the Ohio governor’s race features a woman identified as Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton’s birth mother, accusing Acton of lying and urging voters not to support her. Acton’s campaign and family condemned the ad, saying Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was exploiting allegations that Acton was sexually abused as a child by her mother’s husband. Commentators from across the political spectrum also criticized the ad, with Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, accusing Ramaswamy of using the family’s trauma for political gain.