# Ramaswamy Ad Spends $4m Promoting Estranged Mother

> Ramaswamy’s campaign confirms ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother and pledges $4 million to promote it despite backlash.
- Title: Ramaswamy Ad Spends $4m Promoting Estranged Mother | Shortify
- Summary: Ramaswamy’s campaign confirms ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother and pledges $4 million to promote it despite backlash. Ramaswamy’s team produced an…
- Keywords: ramaswamy, amy acton, donna arthur, ohio governor race, democrat, republican, ad campaign, unattributed ad, child abuse, strategic ad, news, local
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/democrat-in-ohio-governors-race-pushes-back-against-unattributed-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mother
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ramaswamy, amy acton, donna arthur, ohio governor race, democrat, republican, ad campaign, unattributed ad, child abuse, strategic ad, news, local
## Ramaswamy Campaign Confirms Ad
Ramaswamy’s team confirmed late Tuesday they produced a controversial ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother.
## Campaign Pledges $4m Promotion
The campaign said it will spend $4 million to promote the ad despite bipartisan rebuke for dredging up his Democratic opponent’s painful childhood.
## Ad Features Estranged Mother
The video shows Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her a liar and insinuating mental health issues.
## Acton’s Childhood Abuse
Acton, Ohio’s former public health director, faced homelessness and abuse as a child after her stepfather was indicted for raping her.
## Ad Originated Online
The video first surfaced online in a post by Ohio political blogger D.J. Byrnes and spread across social media without a paid for tag.
## Acton Condemns Ad
Acton condemned Ramaswamy for using her birth mother in an ad, calling it a pattern of personal attacks from his past presidential run.
## Campaign Spokesperson Statement
Ramaswamy’s campaign spokesperson Connie Luck said Acton’s mother was not paid for the video and will stream online and air on television.
## Democrats and Republicans Condemn Ad
Democrats and Republicans condemned the ad, with high-profile Republicans like Trump Jr. supporting it while others called it dastardly.
## Key takeaway

Ramaswamy’s team produced an ad using Amy Acton’s birth mother, Donna Arthur, and will spend $4 million to promote it amid criticism.