Attack Ad Featuring Ohio Democrat’s ‘Abusive’ Mom Backfires On Vivek Ramaswamy

A political ad-style video showing Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s “abusive and estranged” biological mother drew condemnation on social media, with critics accusing her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, of engaging in a sleazy attack.

The video featured Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, describing her daughter as a “liar,” disputing allegations about her upbringing and urging Ohioans not to vote for her. Acton’s campaign responded in a statement Tuesday.

“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,” Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, said in a statement.

Amy Acton’s brother slams Vivek Ramaswamy featuring her estranged mother in a campaign ad.

"After he was arrested and Amy and I were removed from their custody, our birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died. 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 it gets him what he wants."

— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 20, 2026

“After he was arrested and Amy and I were removed from their custody, our birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died,” Stearns continued. “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 it gets him what he wants.”

The Daily Caller has reached out to Ramaswamy’s campaign. It is unclear whether the campaign had any role in the creation of the video. (Read more from “Attack Ad Featuring Ohio Democrat’s ‘Abusive’ Mom Backfires On Vivek Ramaswamy” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr