DeWine Urges Ramaswamy Campaign to Pull Ad Targeting Amy Acton
Cyberzenhub.com – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called on Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to stop airing a campaign advertisement that features Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother accusing her daughter of dishonesty.
Speaking in Columbus on Thursday, DeWine described the commercial as “deeply, deeply troubling” and said it should be removed despite the approaching midterm elections. The dispute has drawn criticism from prominent Republicans as well as Democrats, putting unusual attention on the boundaries of personal attacks in Ohio’s governor’s race.
“It’s wrong to run this ad.”
DeWine said Ramaswamy’s campaign should take down the spot. He stressed that his objection was focused on the advertisement, even as he maintained his endorsement of Ramaswamy and support for the state’s Republican ticket.
“Today is about the ad. But … I’m not changing my endorsement.”
An ad centered on family trauma
The advertisement began circulating on social media late Monday and includes Donna Arthur, Acton’s long-estranged mother. Arthur says Acton has been untruthful about her past and about hardships she faced as a child.
Acton has publicly discussed abuse in her childhood and her difficult relationship with her mother. She has said she has not spoken with Arthur since she was 12. Acton has alleged that her mother’s second husband molested her from ages 9 through 12.
Charges were brought against her stepfather, and Acton testified against him. He entered a not-guilty plea, then left the state before the case went to trial and did not appear before a judge. He died in 2004.
Ramaswamy confirmed Tuesday that his campaign produced the commercial. Acton denounced it at a campaign event Wednesday, calling it “horrible and hideous,” “despicable,” and “an exploitative thing to do.”
The controversy has shifted attention from conventional disagreements over policy and leadership to a deeply personal part of Acton’s life. For voters, it has also raised a broader question about whether a candidate’s childhood trauma should be used as material in a political message.
DeWine cites duty to victims
DeWine connected his criticism to his own background prosecuting rape cases. He said political leaders and the public have a responsibility to support victims and to make clear that children deserve protection.
“I think we all have an obligation to speak out for the victims.”
“It’s one of the reasons I’m doing this today. We need to speak out. We need to send the message to children that we are here to protect them and that there are people who will in fact protect them, and we just have to make sure we always try to do that.”
His comments are significant because DeWine had already endorsed Ramaswamy. By retaining that endorsement while forcefully rejecting the ad, DeWine drew a distinction between backing his party’s nominee and approving of a particular campaign tactic.
The governor’s intervention comes less than two weeks before high-stakes midterm elections in Ohio. The state’s ballot includes the gubernatorial contest as well as consequential Senate and House races that could affect control of Congress.
Other Ohio Republicans voice objections
DeWine is not the only Republican to criticize the ad. Former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who previously ran for the Senate in 2018 and for Ohio governor in 2022, urged Ramaswamy to quickly move away from the attack.
Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, who is seeking reelection, said Wednesday that he would not have aired the commercial.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office is examining complaints about the advertisement to determine whether it may have violated state law. He said complaints had come in from multiple people, while also emphasizing that candidates bear responsibility for the choices they make in their own messaging.
“I will say that, you know, candidates will answer for their own ads, that, you know, I probably wouldn’t run an ad like that, but every candidate gets to make their own decision.”
The review does not itself establish that a law was broken. It reflects the level of public reaction surrounding an ad that has become a central campaign issue in the closing stretch of the race.
Vance defends the campaign’s decision
Not every Republican has opposed Ramaswamy’s approach. Vice President JD Vance defended the candidate during an Ohio campaign event Wednesday, praising him for what Vance characterized as blunt political messaging.
“Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar.”
That defense underscores the divide among Ohio Republicans. Some party figures have argued that the ad crosses a moral line by invoking allegations of childhood abuse and a fractured family relationship. Others have defended Ramaswamy’s ability to challenge Acton’s account of her life and record.
As Election Day nears, the dispute may continue to test whether voters view the commercial as a legitimate part of hard-edged campaigning or as an unacceptable use of private trauma. DeWine’s call to remove the ad adds the voice of Ohio’s sitting Republican governor to those urging Ramaswamy to change course.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Take it down?
Take it down is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Take it down matter?
Take it down matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.
