Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, released a campaign ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, drawing condemnation from Acton's family over the ad's references to her childhood sexual abuse.
The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton's estranged mother, disputing a claim Acton has made about her upbringing. "She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She's lied her entire life," Arthur says in the ad. The Guardian reported the ad circulated among conservatives on social media.
Acton's brother called the tactic a despicable low, according to The Guardian. His criticism concerned the ad's reference to Acton's sexual abuse history, the outlet said. BBC News reported that Arthur's husband was charged with sexually abusing Acton during her childhood.
Acton's family criticized Ramaswamy for using her estranged mother in the ad, both outlets reported. Acton herself had responded to the attack ad by October 22, 2026, according to BBC News.