Ramaswamy faces firestorm over US political ad featuring Democrat rival’s estranged mother
Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, faced a firestorm of criticism Wednesday over an ad featuring Democratic rival Amy Acton’s estranged mother, whose husband was charged with raping Acton when she was a child. Acton has not spoken with her mother, Donna Arthur, since her childhood, when she accused her then-stepfather of sexually abusing her for years. In the ad, Arthur…
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy encountered widespread backlash on Wednesday after airing an advertisement that featured Amy Acton, his Democratic rival's estranged mother. The ad prominently displays Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, who claims that her daughter, Amy, has "lied her entire life" and urges voters not to elect her as Ohio's next governor.
Acton, a medical doctor and former state health department director, has not had contact with her mother since she was a child, when she accused her then-stepfather of years of sexual abuse. A statement released by Acton and her brother disclosed that they both endured abuse, hunger, and neglect during their childhood. Acton's husband, the accused rapist, fled before he could be tried and is now deceased.
Acton expressed deep disappointment that Ramaswamy would leverage her abuse for his political campaign. Ramaswamy, a billionaire biotech entrepreneur who previously ran in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, is contesting against Acton for the gubernatorial seat. This race is considered a toss-up by the Cook Political Report.
Michael Coleman, Ohio's former mayor, denounced the ad as the most vile and disgusting political attack he had witnessed in his 35-year career. MK Pritzker, the wife of Illinois's Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, pledged a $500,000 donation to Acton's campaign, calling out the exploitation of a victim for political gain.
Vice-President Kamala Harris' running mate, J.D. Vance, defended Ramaswamy, stating that the ad accurately portrayed Acton as a liar. However, Republican strategist Jeanette Hoffman criticized the ad, asserting that it was already backfiring for Ramaswamy by casting him in a negative light.
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