Ohio Gov. DeWine condemns Ramaswamy ad, calls on him to 'take it down'

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine harshly criticized a recent ad from Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, which featured his Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother accusing her daughter of lying. DeWine denounced the ad as "deeply, deeply troubling" and requested Ramaswamy's campaign to remove it. The ad, which surfaced on social media, features Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, alleging her daughter has lied about her past and the abuse she suffered as a child.

Acton has openly shared her experiences with abuse and her strained relationship with her mother. Ramaswamy confirmed his campaign had produced the ad, drawing backlash from both parties. DeWine, who previously worked with Acton as her boss during her time as head of the Ohio Department of Health, stated that he knew her to be truthful.

The gubernatorial race, along with other high-stakes elections in Ohio, could impact the balance of power in Congress.