Ramaswamy removes ad featuring Acton's estranged mother after bipartisan outcry
The spot, which aired just days before the election, called the Democrat a liar and described her as having a serious problem.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pulled a campaign advertisement on Thursday that featured Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton. The move followed immediate backlash from voters and officials across party lines.
In the thirty-second spot, Arthur described her daughter as a liar and stated she has a serious problem. The ad aired in the final stretch of the campaign, a period when both sides typically avoid personal attacks.
Acton’s campaign spokesperson, Addie Bullock, confirmed the removal. She said Ramaswamy should never have run the ad and called its takedown cowardly because it included no apology to Acton, her family, or Ohio voters. Bullock characterized the candidate as an out-of-touch billionaire willing to harm anyone to achieve his goals.
Current Ohio governor Mike DeWine also reacted to the commercial. He called the spot deeply disturbing and urged the campaign to take it down immediately. DeWine’s comments added weight to the bipartisan criticism that the ad crossed a line.
Acton previously told 13 Action News that she was not well when the ad was produced. She noted she has not spoken to her mother since she was twelve years old, the age at which officials removed her from her mother’s custody. That custody was lost after Arthur’s husband, the children’s stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton as a child.
Bullock used the removal to remind voters about Ramaswamy’s private jet travel on Tuesday. The next scheduled event for the campaign is the general election, where Ohioans will vote for their next governor.
Source: WOIO
