Ohio nominee Amy Acton reacts after Trump and Vance defend Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring her estranged mother: ‘…no low that he wouldn’t sink to’
Underhanded tactics?
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton is speaking out after President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly defended a controversial attack advertisement released by GOP nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who makes claims that Acton has been untruthful about her past.
During an interview with ABC News on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Acton expressed her reaction to the support the ad has received from the top of the Republican ticket. She stated that she hopes both Trump and Vance will look at the facts of the alleged abuse she endured as a child. Acton has alleged that she and her brother suffered extreme child abuse and neglect while growing up.
She specifically claims her mother’s second husband, Cledith Arthur, molested her between the ages of 9 and 12. According to USA Today, charges were filed against Arthur and she even testified against him in court. He pleaded not guilty but fled the state before a trial could take place. He never appeared before a judge and eventually died in 2004. Acton noted that she has not seen her mother since she was 12 – the same year the court removed her and her brother from her mother’s custody.
Acton says she wants to work with anyone on either side of the aisle to solve problems
She told her interviewers that she remains focused on her goals for the state, though she made it clear she finds the campaign tactics used against her to be unacceptable. When asked about her thoughts on Ramaswamy specifically, she said, “I really have no words for Mr. Ramaswamy. I think there is no low that he wouldn’t sink to.”
The ad itself has sparked a significant bipartisan backlash. In it, Donna Arthur claims her daughter is a liar, though the video does not mention the sexual abuse allegations Acton has brought forward. While many have called for the campaign to pull the advertisement, Ramaswamy is doubling down.
He has committed to spending $4 million to keep the ad on the air through Election Day. Speaking at the Strongsville Pancake Breakfast on October 23, Ramaswamy insisted he would not bend to pressure. He told supporters that he would stand for what he knows is right and true, adding that he will not apologize for it.
Trump has encouraged this strategy
At a recent rally, the president revealed that Ramaswamy called him to ask for advice regarding the negative press. Trump said he told him, “You’ve got to ride with it.” For his part, Vance also defended the decision to run the ad. He told rally attendees in Ohio that he feels a bit disgusted when he sees Republicans across the country whining more about that advertisement than about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America.
Local GOP leadership has expressed a different view. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told reporters in Columbus that the ad is deeply, deeply troubling and that the Ramaswamy campaign needs to take it down. Although DeWine did not withdraw his endorsement, Acton said she appreciates him calling out the facts of the case. She noted that DeWine is a former prosecutor who knows the history of the indictment and understands her story.
Other prominent Republicans have also weighed in. Former Governor John Kasich stated on October 22 that the ad should be taken off the air and that the people connected to it should apologize. He described the situation as getting lower and lower in terms of how elections are conducted.
Ramaswamy continues to maintain that the ad is not about childhood abuse
He told reporters on Friday that the campaign ran an ad about lying. He claimed that Acton has been lying throughout the entire campaign regarding her record and her history in the state. Meanwhile, his campaign spokesperson, Connie Luck, stated that Ohioans cannot afford a liberal governor who shows up for Obama but never shows up for them.
The race remains highly competitive. A Fox News survey conducted from October 15 to 19 showed Acton leading Ramaswamy by two percentage points, which is within the margin of error.
Acton has shared a message for other survivors of abuse. She encouraged them to hold on and to speak to someone they feel safe with if they are going through a difficult time.
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