Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has pulled a controversial ad that featured his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar, the campaign confirmed to the Washington Examiner, after the spot drew bipartisan criticism. The campaign said the one-minute ad was removed like any other that had served its purpose, with six other ads still in rotation ahead of Election Day.
Ramaswamy, speaking in Vandalia, Ohio earlier Thursday, said the divisive ad “ran to completion.” His campaign spent about $1 million to air two versions of the spot, less than the $4 million previously reported. The ad was taken down five days before the election.
The attack ad began airing on Oct. 19. It quickly drew rebuke from both parties. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy, but the man Ramaswamy is seeking to succeed, term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, called the ad “deeply troubling” and “wrong,” while noting he still supports Ramaswamy in the race.
Acton’s campaign released a response ad Thursday that seized on the controversy. “To become governor, he’ll smear his opponent for being raped by her stepfather when she was just 10 years old. Exploiting the sexual abuse of a child and spending millions to lie to you about it,” the narrator said in the 30-second video. “If that’s what Ramaswamy will do to get what he wants, what do you think he’ll do to you as governor?”
Obama also criticized Ramaswamy, saying “no office is worth stopping that low.”
Polls show Acton with an advantage. A Republican group’s internal poll, reported by Axios, shows Acton leading by 8 points. Before the ad started airing, Acton led by 2 points. The RealClearPolitics polling average has Acton ahead by 4.3 points.
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Acton's lead over Ramaswamy in three polls
percentage points
The before and after numbers are from the same internal poll. Source: Republican group internal poll; RealClearPolitics polling average
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Analysis
Why This Matters
The ad's content, weaponizing an opponent's childhood trauma, has drawn rare bipartisan condemnation and could shape voter perceptions of both candidates in the final days of the race.
The controversy elevates a state governor's race into a national proxy fight, with figures like Trump, Vance, and Obama weighing in, potentially mobilizing voters beyond Ohio.
The outcome will test whether such aggressive campaigning helps or hurts a candidate, with implications for future political advertising norms.
Background
Ramaswamy, a billionaire and Republican, is challenging Democrat Amy Acton for Ohio governor. The ad in question featured Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her a liar, and referenced sexual abuse Acton suffered as a child. The ad began airing Oct. 19 and ran for about 10 days before being pulled. Acton led Ramaswamy by 2 points before the ad aired; her lead has since widened to 4.3 points in the RealClearPolitics average.
Key Perspectives
Vivek Ramaswamy: Defended the ad as effective, saying it “ran to completion,” and his campaign maintains it served its purpose. He was backed by President Trump and Vice President Vance.
Amy Acton: Released a response ad accusing Ramaswamy of “exploiting the sexual abuse of a child” and lying to voters.
Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH): Called the ad “deeply troubling” and “wrong,” but said he still supports Ramaswamy in the race.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance: Defended Ramaswamy during the controversy.
Former President Barack Obama: Said “no office is worth stopping that low.”
What to Watch
The final five days of the campaign: whether Ramaswamy introduces a new ad or shifts strategy after pulling the controversial spot.
Election results on Nov. 3: whether the ad ultimately helps or hurts Ramaswamy’s performance among undecided voters.
Any further response from Acton’s camp or outside groups as the race enters its final stretch.
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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SupportedRamaswamy pulled the ad after it drew bipartisan criticism.Washington Examiner: “Ramaswamy quickly faced bipartisan rebuke for weaponizing the mother, who has a questionable record of her own, against his opponent.”
SupportedRamaswamy’s campaign confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the ad was taken off the air.Washington Examiner: “In a statement to the Washington Examiner , Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed the one-minute spot was taken off the air like any other ad that served its purpose.”
SupportedThe ad featured Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar.Washington Examiner: “The attack ad featured Democratic candidate Amy Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who called her daughter a “liar””
SupportedRamaswamy said the ad “ran to completion.”Washington Examiner: “Earlier Thursday, Ramaswamy said the divisive ad “ran to completion” while campaigning in Vandalia, Ohio.”
SupportedRamaswamy’s campaign spent about $1 million to air two versions of the ad, less than the previously reported $4 million.Washington Examiner: “His campaign spent about $1 million to air two versions of the same ad, lower than the $4 million amount that was previously reported.”
SupportedThe ad was taken down five days before the election.Washington Examiner: “The ad was taken down five days before the election, as Ramaswamy appears to be facing an uphill battle against Acton.”
SupportedThe ad began airing on Oct. 19.Washington Examiner: “Before the ad started airing on Oct. 19, Acton led Ramaswamy by 2 points.”
SupportedTrump and Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy.Washington Examiner: “When the controversy began, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were among the top Republicans to rush to Ramaswamy’s defense.”
SupportedDeWine called the ad “deeply troubling” and “wrong.”Washington Examiner: “The term-limited official said the campaign ad was “deeply troubling” and “wrong,” but he noted that Ramaswamy still has his support in the race for governor.”
SupportedThe narrator in Acton’s response ad said Ramaswamy would smear his opponent for being raped by her stepfather when she was 10.Washington Examiner: ““To become governor, he’ll smear his opponent for being raped by her stepfather when she was just 10 years old. Exploiting the sexual abuse of a child and spending millions to lie to you about it,” the narrator said”
SupportedObama criticized Ramaswamy, saying “no office is worth stopping that low.”Washington Examiner: “OBAMA RIPS RAMASWAMY AFTER ACTON AD: ‘NO OFFICE IS WORTH STOPPING THAT LOW’”
SupportedA Republican group’s internal poll showed Acton leading by 8 points.Washington Examiner: “A Republican group’s internal poll, as reported by Axios , shows Acton with an 8-point lead.”