Ramaswamy campaign airs then pulls ad featuring rival Amy Acton's estranged mother
The gist
Ohio Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign aired an attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, then confirmed it had finished its run.
The spot drew bipartisan condemnation and turned Acton's childhood trauma into a defining issue in the governor's race.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026Ramaswamy confirmed on camera that the video appearing to be an attack ad against Acton, featuring her estranged mother, came from his campaign team.
- Oct 21, 2026Ramaswamy backed the ad after backlash; it shows Acton's estranged mother calling her daughter a liar.
- Oct 22, 2026The ad drew national scrutiny; Acton has been estranged from her mother since the late 1970s.