Ohio Republican governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy admits his campaign is spending millions to air a disturbing attack ad in which Democratic rival Amy Acton’s long-estranged biological mother accuses her of being a liar. Acton and her brother say their mother protected their stepfather who was charged with raping Acton as a preteen, leading to the children being removed from the home by state ...

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Darke County Republican Party Hog Roast on Oct. 18, 2026, in Greenville, Ohio.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS

Ohio Republican governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy admits his campaign is spending millions to air a disturbing attack ad in which Democratic rival Amy Acton’s long-estranged biological mother accuses her of being a liar.

Acton and her brother say their mother protected their stepfather who was charged with raping Acton as a preteen, leading to the children being removed from the home by state child welfare authorities.

“It’s awful to see,” said Acton, who repeated her claim that her stepfather repeatedly raped her when she was between the ages of 10 and 12. “I’ve always known that she was deeply sick and unwell, and it’s sad to see Vivek Ramaswamy exploit her all for his own political gain.”

Ramaswamy is standing by the ad, noting that Acton has also attacked his character in the neck-and-neck race. His campaign admits bankrolling it to the tune of $4 million in the closing days of the campaign.

“That does deserve to be scrutinized,” Ramaswamy told an Ohio television station.

The former GOP presidential candidate said Acton’s estranged mother was not paid to appear in the ad.

Acton, 60, a former state health director, narrowly leads Ramaswamy in most polls of the race to replace term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine.

Democrats are pushing senior Ohio GOP figures to weigh in on the controversial ad, which some pundits say could drag down other Republican candidates in the state.

Sherrod Brown, who holds a narrow lead over Republican Sen. John Husted, has demanded that his opponent weigh in on controversy, but Husted hasn’t said anything so far.

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