A viral video featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, has become a focal point in the Ohio governor’s race. In the 60-second clip, which circulated on social media on Monday, October 19, Arthur calls her daughter a “liar” and urges Ohioans to vote against her. The video does not include a legally required disclaimer identifying who paid for it, and it had not aired on television as of Tuesday afternoon, October 20.
The video has drawn attention to Acton’s childhood, which she has described in past interviews as being marked by neglect and abuse. Acton, a physician and former director of the Ohio Department of Health, stated she has not seen her mother since a 1978 court appearance when she was 12 years old. During that time, Acton’s biological father reported abuse to authorities, leading to the arrest of Arthur’s husband, the late Cledith Arthur, who was charged with raping Acton. Court records indicate Cledith Arthur pleaded not guilty and later became a fugitive.
In the video, Donna Arthur pushes back against Acton’s accounts of living in a tent during her childhood but does not mention the specific allegations of abuse. Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, issued a statement Tuesday criticizing Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy for the ad, describing it as an attempt to turn childhood trauma into a political talking point. Acton told WOSU on Tuesday that her mother was “clearly not well” and accused the Ramaswamy campaign of taking advantage of her.
Ramaswamy’s campaign spokesperson, Connie Luck, did not confirm or deny if the campaign produced the video. Luck stated that while the campaign does not know the details of the relationship between Acton and her mother, they consider Acton a "serial fabulist" regarding her personal history. The video was circulated by various figures, including Donald Trump Jr., while some members of both parties, including Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and commentator Meghan McCain, criticized the use of the footage.
For individual voters, the immediate change is a shift in campaign messaging from policy to personal character. Residents in Ohio will notice an increase in social media circulation of these claims as the election enters its final weeks. The lack of a disclosure on the video also raises questions about campaign finance transparency, as the origin of the funding for the spot remains unverified.
What happens next involves the final stretch leading to the November 3 election. While Ramaswamy’s campaign has called for a debate, Acton has refused to participate, citing her opponent's campaign tactics as the reason. As of Tuesday, there are no debates scheduled. Voters in Ohio will continue to see rebuttals from the Acton campaign, including a response video featuring her brother titled “Abuse,” as both sides seek to influence undecided and independent voters before the polls close.