Key facts
- Ramaswamy's campaign released an ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother.
- The ad omits Acton's allegation of childhood sexual assault by her mother's husband.
- Acton's brother stated the ad was "despicable" for using the assault allegation.
- Ramaswamy pledged to spend $4 million to air the attack ad.
- The Ohio governor's race was moved to "toss up" by Cook Political Report.
The race for Ohio governor has intensified with a controversial attack ad released by Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad features Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, urging voters not to elect her daughter. However, the ad omits that Acton has alleged she was sexually assaulted by Arthur's husband 40 years ago when she was 12. Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, described the ad as "despicable" for using the alleged assault as a political tool. Ramaswamy confirmed his campaign produced the ad and pledged $4 million to air it further, drawing widespread criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. Experts suggest the ad's intensely personal nature may backfire and indicate desperation from Ramaswamy's campaign.