Ramaswamy pours $4 million into ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother

Donna Arthur, estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, appears in a controversial ad produced by Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign, calling Acton "a liar." Ramaswamy's team spent $4 million to air the ad despite facing bipartisan criticism for exploiting Acton's traumatic childhood. The ad surfaced on social media and at a town hall meeting where a heckler confronted Ramaswamy over its content. Acton’s brother, Phillip Stearns, alleged that Donna Arthur was removed from custody of Amy when she was 12 years old due to severe abuse and neglect by her stepfather who sexually abused her. The campaign has confirmed they did not pay Arthur for the ad. Amidst voter backlash, Ramaswamy remains defiant in using this strategy as Ohio's gubernatorial race enters its final weeks with over 676,000 ballots already cast. Democrats have labeled this move as desperate and an attempt to smear Acton's character rather than engage in substantive policy debate.