Key Ohio Republicans criticize Ramaswamy’s ad with Acton’s estranged mother, even as Vance warned them not to
Ohio Republicans Split Over Ramaswamy Ad Featuring Amy Acton’s Estranged Mother
Qwenews.com – Key Ohio Republicans criticize Ramaswamy after his gubernatorial campaign aired a television ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton. The spot has sparked concern over campaign tactics as Ohio voters prepare for Election Day.
In the ad, Arthur attacks her daughter’s character and urges voters not to support her. Acton has said she has had no contact with her mother since she was about 12 years old, after the man her mother married sexually abused Acton and later faced criminal charges.
The controversy has created a public divide among Ohio Republicans. While some party figures objected to the commercial, Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans to focus on winning rather than criticizing Ramaswamy in public.
Ohio Republican Candidates Express Concern
Sen. Jon Husted said he would not have chosen to run the advertisement. His comments came shortly after he appeared with Vance and Ramaswamy at a Cincinnati rally.
“I would not have run that ad,” Husted said.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican candidate for state auditor, offered a similar response. Although he did not directly condemn Ramaswamy, LaRose said the commercial was not the type of ad he would likely use in his own campaign.
“I probably wouldn’t run an ad like that,” LaRose said.
Key Ohio Republicans criticize Ramaswamy’s ad amid broader frustration within the state party. A GOP operative said at least one additional Republican candidate personally urged Ramaswamy not to air it, while others worried the late-stage controversy could affect the party’s standing with voters.
Vance Urges Republicans to Stay Focused
Vance, a former Ohio senator, took a different position during a Cincinnati news conference. He told fellow Republicans to set aside their objections and concentrate on the final days of the campaign.
“Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days,” Vance said.
When asked whether the ad was appropriate, Vance did not give a direct answer. Instead, he argued that some Republicans appeared more troubled by the commercial than by Democratic policies.
At the Cincinnati rally, Vance defended Ramaswamy’s aggressive approach and said Democrats had used harsh political tactics against the Republican nominee.
“Now the media and the Democrats in the state of Ohio are obsessed because guess what? Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar,” Vance said.
A Personal Family History Enters the Campaign
The minute-long ad centers on Arthur’s allegations against Acton. Arthur says in the commercial that her daughter has lied throughout her life and needs help before she can help Ohio voters.
“My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself,” Arthur says in the advertisement.
For Acton, the commercial has renewed attention on the abuse she says she experienced as a child and the long estrangement from her mother. The dispute has made the campaign debate unusually personal, beyond the typical attacks of a competitive statewide race.
Former Ohio House Speaker Ryan Smith publicly pushed back on Vance’s criticism of Republicans who objected to the ad.
“Stop normalizing bad behavior and embarrassing the party,” Smith wrote on X. “Ohio deserves better than this!”
FAQ: What Does This Mean for Ohio Voters?
Why are Ohio Republicans divided over the ad? Some Republicans say they would not use a family conflict and allegations involving an estranged parent in a campaign commercial. Others, including Vance, argue that party members should remain focused on defeating Democrats.
Who is featured in the Ramaswamy campaign ad? The advertisement features Donna Arthur, Amy Acton’s estranged mother, who criticizes Acton and urges Ohio voters not to support her.
What has Amy Acton said about her mother? Acton has said she has not been in contact with her mother since she was around 12 years old, following abuse by the man her mother married.