Ohio gubernatorial race attack ad controversy involving Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy
A controversy in the Ohio gubernatorial race over a Republican-backed attack ad by Vivek Ramaswamy featuring Democratic candidate Amy Acton's estranged mother. The ad prompted criticism from Acton, bipartisan pushback, and public defenses from Ramaswamy and former President Donald Trump, while Acton and former President Barack Obama responded at an Ohio rally.
Current state
The attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother remains a live, polarizing issue in Ohio’s governor’s race: Ramaswamy continues to air and defend it with support from Trump and Vance, while Acton—joined by Obama at a Cleveland rally—continues to condemn it alongside bipartisan criticism from DeWine.
6 sources · 10 reports · Updated 25 Oct 2026
What changed
Former President Barack Obama joined Amy Acton at a Cleveland rally and publicly criticized Vivek Ramaswamy over the controversial attack ad.
Developments
- Key development
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who endorsed Ramaswamy, condemned the ad as “deeply, deeply troubling” and “wrong.”
- Key development
A Republican attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar began circulating and was attributed to Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign.
- Key development
Acton and her campaign publicly condemned Ramaswamy over the ad, with Acton calling it “despicable.”
- Earlier development
Acton and her mother became estranged after Acton’s mother backed her husband following his arrest on rape charges.
- Key development
Acton’s brother condemned the ad as a “despicable low” and said their stepfather sexually abused Acton when she was a child.
Earlier coverage
- Amy Acton says Trump, Vance should 'look at the facts' after Ramaswamy attack ad Ohio Democratic Amy Acton spoke to ABC News after a rally in Cleveland with former President Barack Obama.
- Vivek Ramaswamy defends ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother Speaking at a campaign stop, Ramaswamy said the advertisement, which features Acton's mother calling her "a liar," had nothing to do with childhood abuse.
- Trump fiercely defends Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial attack ad against Amy Acton President Trump fiercely defended the controversial advertisement at the center of Ohio's gubernatorial race. Weijia Jiang has more details.
- 'This is despicable': Amy Acton responds to Ohio attack ad featuring her estranged mother Her Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy is airing the ad featuring her mother, whose husband was charged with sexual abuse in her childhood.
- Vance Defends Ramaswamy Ad Featuring Acton’s Mother Despite Backlash The vice president backed an advertisement featuring Democrat Amy Acton’s mother, who has been estranged from Ms. Acton since her stepfather was charged with child rape.