By Sohaib Shams
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has taken a controversial attack ad off the air in Ohio after spending roughly $1 million of a planned $4 million buy, according to ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Ramaswamy announced the end of the ad's run during a campaign appearance in Vandalia, Ohio, on Thursday.
The Ad Controversy
The divisive spot featured Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Ramaswamy's Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton, calling her daughter a lifelong liar and urging Ohioans not to elect her governor. The two women 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 stepfather died in 2004.
Trump's Defense
President Donald Trump repeatedly defended the ad over the past week, calling Acton "fair game" because she is running for public office. At a midterms rally in Chillicothe supporting Ramaswamy and GOP Sen. Jon Husted, 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 Gov. Mike DeWine for criticizing Ramaswamy, labeling him a "RINO" and "disloyal" on Truth Social.
Backlash and Withdrawal
The ad provoked widespread backlash across party lines. Past and present Ohio governors, alumni of Ramaswamy's Catholic high school in Cincinnati, and politicians nationally urged him to pull it down. Ramaswamy faced angry heckling, venue cancellations, and denunciation from a former teacher. His aides reportedly advised against running the ad initially.
Acton's Response
Speaking on MS NOW, Acton called the ad "unacceptable" and said she believed her mother had been "exploited" by Ramaswamy's team. She said Ohioans were "exhausted" by the "hate and chaos" and reminded voters that "decency is on the ballot" in the upcoming election.
