# Ramaswamy's attack ad features Acton's estranged mother

> Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign releases an ad attacking Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton using her estranged mother, sparking outrage over the use of her childhood abuse.
- Title: Ramaswamy's attack ad features Acton's estranged mother
- Summary: Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign releases an ad attacking Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton using her estranged mother, sparking outrage over the use of…
- Keywords: breaking, vivek ramaswamy, amy acton, ohio governor race, attack ad, childhood abuse, 2026 midterm elections, news, Ramaswamy's, attack, features, Acton's
- Source: Cbsnews — https://cbsnews.com/news/ohio-governor-amy-acton-mother-ramaswamy
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, vivek ramaswamy, amy acton, ohio governor race, attack ad, childhood abuse, 2026 midterm elections, news
## Ramaswamy releases attack ad
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign released an attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling Acton a liar about her past.

> Amy was a serious problem. She is a liar; she lies about her past.
## Acton's abuse history
Donna Arthur's husband, Cledith Arthur, was accused of raping Acton when she was a child.
## Brother condemns the ad
Acton's brother Philip Stearns called the ad despicable, saying Ramaswamy weaponized the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old into a political talking point.

> It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother's husband into a political talking point.
## Ramaswamy defends the ad
On Tuesday, Ramaswamy told reporters it was an ad from his campaign.He defended it, saying every person who knows Acton best has told voters not to vote for her but to vote for him instead.

> Every person who appears to know her the best have told voters not to vote for her but to vote for me instead.
## Campaign calls Acton a fabulist
Ramaswamy's spokesperson Connie Luck said the campaign knows Acton is a serial fabulist with serious problems with the truth that the public needs to know before deciding who to trust as governor.

> We know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of before deciding who to entrust as governor.
## Vance says politics is tough
Vice President JD Vance, who represented Ohio in the Senate, said Wednesday that whether the ad was appropriate is not his concern and told fellow Republicans to stop whining and go win the race.

> Politics is a tough business. And my message to my fellow elected Republicans is, if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in thirteen days.
## Acton leading in polls
Acton, who served as Ohio's public health commissioner under Governor Mike DeWine during the pandemic, has been leading in polls over the last month as the race continues.
## Key takeaway

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign released an attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother calling her a liar, drawing condemnation for weaponizing her childhood sexual abuse in the Ohio governor's race.