Acton Campaign Condemns Attack Ad Targeting Ohio Governor Candidate

An attack advertisement targeting Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton has prompted a public response from her campaign and a statement from her brother, who accused the campaign's political opponents of exploiting her childhood sexual abuse. The ad features a woman identifying herself as Donna Arthur, who claims to be Acton's mother and urges voters not to support her daughter.

Although the advertisement does not name Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Acton's campaign blamed him for the attack. The video's origin remains unclear, and it contains no credits identifying who produced or distributed it.

According to Forbes, Ramaswamy and his campaign have not claimed responsibility for the advertisement. Donald Trump Jr. shared the video, bringing additional attention to the controversy surrounding the Ohio governor's race.

In the advertisement, Arthur questions Acton's statements about her political opponent and challenges voters to reconsider their support for the Democratic nominee.

"I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent—and it's not easy for a mother to say this—but Amy has a serious problem," Donna Arthur said in the ad.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearnes, disputed the portrayal of their family and characterized their mother as estranged and abusive. In a statement posted on Acton's X page, he connected the advertisement to sexual abuse Acton experienced when she was 12 years old.

"It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother's husband into a political talking point," Philip Stearnes wrote in the statement.

Stearnes said he and Acton were removed from their mother's custody after their stepfather was arrested for the abuse. He also said their mother remained married to the abuser until the man's death.

Stearnes further criticized the alleged political use of his sister's childhood experiences, directing his condemnation at Ramaswamy.

"This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core-a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as he gets what he wants," the statement concluded.

As of the source report's publication on October 20, 2026, Ramaswamy had not issued a statement about the advertisement. Neither he nor his campaign had publicly accepted responsibility for its production.