Ohio Republican pulls controversial attack ad featuring opponent's mother

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 23:50 · Archive

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has ended an attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Dr Amy Acton.

Ramaswamy announced during a campaign appearance in Vandalia, Ohio, on Thursday that the ad's planned run was over. His campaign originally said it would spend $4 million to air the ad, but data from ad-tracking firm AdImpact showed it spent roughly $1 million.

The ad featured Donna Arthur calling her daughter a lifelong liar, despite the two not having seen each other for nearly 50 years. Arthur lost custody of her children in 1978 after her husband, Acton's stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was twelve.

The divisive spot provoked backlash in Ohio and among politicians of both parties across the nation. Ramaswamy had defended the ad, though a later version trimmed some portions. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance said they supported airing it, with Trump saying he had told Ramaswamy to leave it on the air. Ohio governors past and present and alumni of Ramaswamy's Catholic high school in Cincinnati had urged him to pull it down.

Acton's campaign said the ad was 'despicable' and should never have run, and that Ramaswamy should have apologised.

How it is being reported

• Controversial attack ad featuring Democrat’s estranged mother has run its course in OhioOhio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says his campaign is pulling its controversial attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton.Clickorlando · 29 Oct, 23:12
• Controversial attack ad featuring Democrat’s estranged mother has run its course in OhioOhio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says his campaign is pulling its controversial attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Dr. Amy Acton.News4Jax · 29 Oct, 23:12

In this story: Vivek Ramaswamy · Amy Acton · Donna Arthur · Ohio · Donald Trump · JD Vance

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log