Ramaswamy's divisive ad triggers GOP backlash

Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featured his opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother in a campaign ad, sparking fierce bipartisan backlash and alarm among Ohio Republicans on Wednesday.

The mother hasn't spoken to Acton since 1978

Acton's mother has not spoken to her daughter since nineteen seventy-eight, when she defended Acton's stepfather who was indicted for raping Acton as a child.

Republicans fear the ad will backfire

Private conversations among old-guard Republicans revealed deep concern the ad would draw more empathy for Acton from voters and turn them away from Ramaswamy.

“We now deserve to lose this race.”

Ramaswamy spending four million dollars on the ad

Ramaswamy's campaign said it was putting four million dollars into making sure the ad gets seen, targeting persuadable voters still undecided between him and Acton.

Vance defends the hard-nosed messaging

Vice President J.D. Vance, campaigning in Cincinnati, urged Republicans not to complain about the ad and said he believes Acton is unfit to serve as Governor of Ohio.

“I'm a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America.”

Republican officials condemn the strategy

Republican Lydia Mihalik, a member of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's Cabinet, said exploiting someone's childhood trauma is wrong. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called Ramaswamy a bad guy.

“He's a bad guy. It's a shame he continues to get away with it.”

Acton's brother responds with his own ad

Acton's brother Phil Stearns released a thirty-second ad Wednesday saying Ramaswamy has contempt for Amy and therefore contempt for Ohio, and is not fit to lead.

“She was eleven and twelve years old, and to think that that's somehow a talking point, shame on Vivek.”