# Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio Ad Sparks Bipartisan Backlash

> Ohio gubernatorial ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother draws bipartisan criticism, but Ramaswamy's team remains undeterred.
- Title: Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio Ad Sparks Bipartisan Backlash
- Summary: Ohio gubernatorial ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother draws bipartisan criticism, but Ramaswamy's team remains undeterred. Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign…
- Keywords: vivek ramaswamy, amy acton, ohio gubernatorial election, senator jon husted, representative warren davidson, joseph d. vance, ohio republican party, political ad, bipartisan backlash, ohio election, news, local
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/21/nation/ramaswamy-acton-ad-vance-ohio
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: vivek ramaswamy, amy acton, ohio gubernatorial election, senator jon husted, representative warren davidson, joseph d. vance, ohio republican party, political ad, bipartisan backlash, ohio election, news, local
## Ohio Teacher Votes Early After Ad
A 52-year-old teacher rushed to vote early after seeing a campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother calling her a liar.

> That made me come vote today for Amy Acton because I thought, 'What a piece of crap'
## Ad Features Estranged Mother
The ad shows Amy Acton's estranged mother accusing her daughter of being a liar who can't be trusted.
## Ad Leaked and Backfired
The ad was leaked online Tuesday and drew swift bipartisan backlash despite initial conservative social media support.
## Background on Estranged Mother
Amy Acton was removed from her mother’s custody at age 12 after accusing her mother’s husband of sexual abuse.
## Vice President Defends Ad
Vice President JD Vance defended the ad at a rally, saying it was a tactic Democrats used to attack Ramaswamy.
## Campaign Spends $4.5m on Ad
Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed it produced the ad and will spend $4.5 million to broadcast it in every Ohio media market.
## Opposition Campaign Criticizes Ad
Acton’s campaign called the ad repulsive, accusing Ramaswamy of being a self-serving billionaire who harms others.

> Vivek Ramaswamy investing $4 million to run a repulsive advertisement that gives star billing to Dr. Acton’s abusive mother is both despicable and entirely predictable
## Voters Unchanged by Ad
Ohio voters from both parties said the ad didn’t change their minds and cemented their choice.
## Election Timeline
With the general election less than two weeks away, Republicans face tough challengers in competitive states.
## Key takeaway

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign aired a controversial ad accusing Democratic rival Amy Acton of being a liar, prompting bipartisan backlash but not changing voter intentions ahead of Ohio's election.