Ohio Republican's attack ad featuring opponent's mother sparks backlash

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 19:20 · Archive

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign is running an ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, whose husband was charged with raping Acton as a child.

Vivek Ramaswamy's Republican campaign is running an attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur. In the ad Arthur says Acton is 'a liar' and 'a serious problem'. The ad does not mention that Arthur's husband was charged with raping Acton when she was a child, or that Acton and her brother were then removed from Arthur's custody. According to Acton's campaign, the last time she saw her mother was in a courtroom in 1978 after her stepfather was indicted. He fled town before trial, was never prosecuted, and died in 2004.

The ad first circulated on social media Monday night before Ramaswamy confirmed Tuesday it was from his campaign. Acton called it 'despicable' on Wednesday, saying 'I've never attacked his family. I would never do that.' She also released a counter-ad in which her brother recalled their childhood abuse and criticised Ramaswamy for using sexual assault as 'a political talking point'.

Outgoing Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who endorsed Ramaswamy, said on Thursday that the ad was 'wrong' and 'on its face, deeply, deeply troubling'. He called for it to be taken down, though he said he was not rescinding his endorsement. However, Vice President JD Vance told Republicans to 'stop whining' about the ad. Ramaswamy's campaign spokesperson Connie Luck defended it, saying 'the first and only candidate to attack the mother of her opponent in this race was Amy Acton' and that Arthur was 'speaking out about her clear pattern of lying'. Both Acton and Ramaswamy are running to replace the term-limited DeWine in the 3 November midterm election.

How it is being reported

• GOP officials divided over Ramaswamy ad with Acton's momIn the ad, which first circulated on social media Monday night, Democrat Amy Acton's estranged mother called her a liar.CBS News · 22 Oct, 18:56
• 'This is despicable': Amy Acton responds to Ohio attack ad featuring her estranged motherHer Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy is airing the ad featuring her mother, whose husband was charged with sexual abuse in her childhood.BBC World · 22 Oct, 17:40

In this story: Amy Acton · Vivek Ramaswamy · Donna Arthur · Mike DeWine · JD Vance · Ohio

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