“[On Truth Social, after DeWine's news conference:] The Press is trying to convince everyone that this Ad is bad, because it's so good! Who wouldn't use such an Ad? I would, it's called, "hitting pay dirt." … I suggested, on the other hand, that Vivek should keep it up, and let everyone listen to the mother of a defective, dishonest, and incapable Candidate, explain how the daughter is a DISASTER … If my mother, the legendary Mary MacLeod Trump, said anything bad about me, the Fake News would play it up. … The Dumocrats would be totally supportive, and it would go down as the Ad of the Decade — Maybe the Century! … [DeWine] was, as usual, disloyal to the Republican Party. … He probably wants a Dumocrat to win … I know the real Vivek, he is a brilliant and outstanding person who will cut Taxes, stop Crime and, MAKE OHIO GREAT AGAIN.
Ramaswamy Ad With Acton's Mother: DeWine, Trump React
Two Weeks Before Election Day, Vivek Ramaswamy Runs an Ad in Which Amy Acton's Estranged Mother Calls Her "a Liar" — Gov. Mike DeWine Says It Is "Deeply, Deeply Troubling" and Should Come Down, Sen. Jon Husted Says "I Would Not Have Run That Ad," JD Vance Tells Republicans to "Stop Whining," and Trump Calls It "Hitting Pay Dirt"
October 22, 2026
What happened▸
Late on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, a minute-long ad began circulating in Ohio's governor's race. In it, Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton, calls her daughter "a liar" and urges Ohioans not to vote for her. Acton, the state's former health director, has said she has not spoken to her mother since she was about 12. She says her stepfather sexually abused her as a child and her mother did nothing to protect her. Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, released a video for her campaign saying their mother "stayed married to Amy's rapist until he died." Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign at first would not say who made the ad. On Oct. 20 it said it had produced the ad and would spend about $4 million to promote it.
The ad split Ohio Republicans in the last two weeks before the Nov. 3 election. On Oct. 21, Sen. Jon Husted, who is on the ballot himself against Sherrod Brown, told the AP he "would not have run that ad," and Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he "probably wouldn't." The same day, Vice President JD Vance, campaigning in Cincinnati, told fellow Republicans to "stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race." On Oct. 22, Gov. Mike DeWine held a Statehouse news conference to call the ad "deeply, deeply troubling" and urge Ramaswamy to take it down, though he said he was not withdrawing his endorsement. Hours later, President Trump posted that Ramaswamy "should keep it up," called the ad "hitting pay dirt," and called DeWine "disloyal to the Republican Party." A mid-October Marist poll had Acton ahead 50% to 43% among likely voters.
10 Statements
“[At a news conference at the Ohio Statehouse called to address the ad:] The ad, on its face, is deeply, deeply troubling. … When you know the rest of the story, when you know the backstory, when you know that the husband of the mom was indicted by a grand jury after hearing testimony … It makes it just more wrong. So it's wrong to run this ad, and even at this late time, I would just urge the Ramaswamy campaign to take this down.
“[To reporters at the Statehouse, asked whether he would withdraw his endorsement of Ramaswamy:] Look, today is about the ad, but I'm not — no, I'm not changing my endorsement. I endorse the whole ticket, as you know. I'm a Republican. I endorse the whole ticket. … [Asked about Vance's remarks:] Look, I'm not going to comment on what someone else said. I mean, this is Mike DeWine, with my life experiences, saying what I think about this ad.
“[Statement from Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Connie Luck, responding to DeWine:] Governor DeWine is correct that the first and only candidate to attack the mother of her opponent in this race was Amy Acton. We refuse to accept the media's double standards when Democrats have regularly used family members of President Trump, RFK Jr., and other Republicans in ads. … She slanderously lied about Vivek's mother this fall, without shame. … Voters shouldn't buy it.
“[To reporters while campaigning in Cincinnati:] Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar. … I'm a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement [than about congressional Democrats]. … 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.
“[To ABC 6 News, citing "complaints from various people" about the ad:] I probably wouldn't run an ad like that, but every candidate gets to make their own decision.
“[To the Associated Press, asked about the Ramaswamy ad:] I would not have run that ad.
“[At a campaign event:] It's a horrible and hideous thing to do. … It's despicable. … It's an exploitative thing to do.
“[Statement from Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Connie Luck, before the campaign confirmed it had made the ad:] [Acton] has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of.
“[Statement reported by the AP, calling on everyone — including his opponent, Sen. Jon Husted — to denounce the ad:] Disgusting.