By Fatma Younis
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has pulled a controversial attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, after spending roughly $1 million of a planned $4 million ad buy. Ramaswamy announced the end of the ad's run during a campaign appearance in Vandalia, Ohio, on Thursday.
Ad Content and Backlash
The advertisement showed Donna Arthur, Acton's mother, calling her daughter a lifelong liar and urging Ohioans not to vote for her. The two had not spoken for nearly 50 years. Arthur lost custody of her children in 1978 after her husband, Acton's stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12 years old. The ad drew widespread condemnation from Ohio politicians of both parties, former classmates from Ramaswamy's Catholic high school in Cincinnati, and current and former Ohio governors.
Trump's Defense and Pressure
President Donald Trump repeatedly defended the ad over the past week, telling Ramaswamy to keep it on air and declaring Acton "fair game" because she is running for public office. At a rally in Chillicothe on Wednesday, Trump dismissed critics, including members of his own party, and compared the situation to a hypothetical attack on his own mother. He also lashed out at Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, calling him a "RINO" and "disloyal" for criticizing Ramaswamy.
Ramaswamy's Decision and Acton's Response
Despite Trump's public support, Ramaswamy faced heckling at events, venue cancellations, and denunciation from a former teacher. His aides reportedly advised against the ad. At the Chillicothe rally, Ramaswamy did not mention the ad directly but said he was running against a woman who had "already shown you who she is." Acton called the ad "despicable" and "unacceptable," saying her mother had been exploited. She expressed gratitude for the public outpouring of support and said "decency is on the ballot" in the upcoming election.
