Democrat pushes back against unattributed ad featuring estranged mother

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 21:02 · Archive

Dr Amy Acton, Ohio's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is contesting an unattributed online ad in which her estranged mother calls her 'a liar'.

Dr Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, has pushed back forcefully against an unattributed ad circulating online in which her long-estranged mother calls her 'a liar' and insinuates she has mental health issues. The ad began circulating overnight, just two weeks before election day.

Acton, Ohio's former public health director, is in a tight race with Republican billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, who has benefited from spending on his behalf exceeding $120 million. The online ad first surfaced in a post by an Ohio political blogger and spread quickly across social media platforms. It does not include the 'paid for' tag legally required for television advertising so viewers can know its source. It was unclear who produced it or paid for it, or how it was accessed for posting.

Acton suggested Ramaswamy was behind the ad. Speaking to Spectrum News, she said: 'I won't normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is just something I'm complaining about, who today just released an ad using my birth mother, who I was removed from at the age of 12 for severe abuse and neglect, and sexual abuse.' It was not immediately clear whether Acton's mother was paid for the one-minute spot. Her last known telephone number has been disconnected.

How it is being reported

• Democrat in Ohio governor's race pushes back against unattributed ad featuring her estranged motherDr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, is pushing back forcefully against an unattributed ad circulating online in which her long-estranged mother calls her “a liar” and insinuates she has mental health issues.News4Jax · 20 Oct, 20:17
• Democrat in Ohio governor's race pushes back against unattributed ad featuring her estranged motherDr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, is pushing back forcefully against an unattributed ad circulating online in which her long-estranged mother calls her “a liar” and insinuates she has mental health issues.Clickorlando · 20 Oct, 20:17

In this story: Dr Amy Acton · Vivek Ramaswamy · Ohio

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