# Ohio governor race turns ugly over attack ad

> Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign ad features his opponent's estranged mother, omitting a rape allegation that caused their split decades ago.
- Title: Ohio governor race turns ugly over attack ad · BBC News
- Summary: Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign ad features his opponent's estranged mother, omitting a rape allegation that caused their split decades ago. Republican…
- Keywords: breaking, vivek ramaswamy, amy acton, ohio governor race, attack ad, 2026 midterm elections, sexual assault allegation, news, world, Ohio, governor, race
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm98zn3l2rn7o
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:48:36.535+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, vivek ramaswamy, amy acton, ohio governor race, attack ad, 2026 midterm elections, sexual assault allegation, news, world
## Ramaswamy releases controversial ad
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released an attack ad featuring Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother saying she has lied her entire life.

> She's lied her entire life
## The ad omits a crucial detail
The ad does not mention that Acton alleged she was raped by her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, forty years ago when she was twelve years old.
## Acton's family responds
Acton's brother said turning alleged sexual assault into a political talking point was a despicable low. Experts told the BBC the attack will likely backfire.
## The estrangement dates to 1978
Acton and her brother were removed from their mother's custody when Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged in nineteen seventy-eight. He was never prosecuted and died in two thousand four.
## Political attacks have grown coarser
David Lublin, a professor from American University's School of Public Affairs, said attack ads have become more intense and boundaries have stretched about what one attacks.

> They have become more intense, and the boundaries have stretched in terms of what one attacks about
## Ramaswamy pledges four million dollars
Ramaswamy confirmed the ad came from his campaign on Tuesday and pledged to spend four million dollars to further air it, drawing intense backlash from Democrats.
## Race moves to toss up status
Cook Political Report moved the Ohio governor's race from leans Republican to toss up. Lublin expects the attack ad to backfire and signal Ramaswamy's campaign is desperate.
## Key takeaway

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy released an attack ad featuring Democratic candidate Amy Acton's estranged mother, but omitted that Acton alleged she was raped by her stepfather forty years ago.