Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, that his campaign produced a social media advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. The video shows Donna Arthur calling her daughter a "liar" and urging Ohioans not to vote for her. The Acton campaign and her brother, Philip Stearns, described the advertisement as a "disgusting smear" involving her "estranged, abusive mother."
The dispute centers on Acton’s childhood. According to court records and a 1978 newspaper report from the Youngstown Vindicator, Acton’s stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was charged with the rape of a 12-year-old girl. Acton, who was 12 at the time, has stated she testified against him and was subsequently removed from her mother's custody to live with her father. Donna Arthur remained married to Cledith Arthur until his death in 2004. In the campaign video, Arthur claims Acton "lies about her past" and "needs help."
Ramaswamy defended the advertisement on Tuesday, stating he viewed the content as "legitimate" and noting that Arthur was not compensated. He argued that Acton has been "hiding" from substantive issues and refusing to debate. His spokesperson, Connie Luck, stated the campaign does not know the specific details of the past relationship between Acton and her mother but characterized Acton as a "serial fabulist." Vice President JD Vance also defended the advertisement at a Wednesday campaign event in Cincinnati, while conservative commentator Meghan McCain criticized the spot on social media, calling it "dastardly" and stating it "never should have been created."
Following the release of the advertisement, Ramaswamy’s standing in prediction markets showed a downward trend. On the prediction platform Polymarket, his odds of winning the election dropped to 22 percent by Wednesday afternoon, while Acton’s rose to 79 percent. This represents a reversal from one year ago, when Ramaswamy held a 71 percent chance of winning compared to Acton's 30 percent. A Marist Poll conducted before the advertisement's release showed Acton leading Ramaswamy 50 percent to 43 percent among likely Ohio voters.
The general election will take place in November 2026. Acton's campaign released its own response video featuring her brother, Philip Stearns, who called on Ramaswamy to end the attacks.