Ohio secretary of state reviews complaints about a required disclaimer
Acton’s response and the advertisement. At a Wednesday evening campaign stop, Amy Acton said, “This is despicable, what he’s done,” about the advertisement from Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy. She added, “I’ve never attacked his family. I would never do that,” and, referring to the fallout, said, “You can see that there are so many people who have experienced trauma and abuse in their lives.”
The advertisement, launched Monday, features Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, saying that Acton “lied her entire life.” It does not mention that Arthur’s husband was charged with raping Acton when she was a child or that Acton and her brother were then removed from Arthur’s custody. Since it launched, the advertisement has generated political backlash and cast a national spotlight on the race.
Family history in the advertisement. Information provided to the BBC by Acton’s campaign said Acton last saw her mother in a courtroom in 1978 after her stepfather was indicted. The report said Arthur’s husband fled town before he could stand trial, was never prosecuted and died in 2004. In an advertisement Acton released earlier in the week, her brother recalled their abuse as children and chided Ramaswamy for using sexual assault as “a political talking point.”
Disclosure and spending. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said his office was reviewing complaints about Ramaswamy’s advertisement, which may have initially aired without a legally required disclaimer telling viewers who paid for it. Ramaswamy claimed responsibility the day after the advertisement was released on social media and said his campaign would spend $4m (£3m) to air it across Ohio.
The race and Republican reaction. Acton and Ramaswamy are running to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who endorsed Ramaswamy, in the 3 November midterm election. DeWine reportedly described the advertisement as deeply troubling and called for it to be taken down. The BBC report said the advertisement may have hurt Ramaswamy’s chances at winning.
Editorial and party reactions. The editorial board of The Columbus Dispatch endorsed Acton after the advertisement dropped and described it as “revolting and unsettling.” On Thursday, former Republican Ohio Congressman Jim Renacci wrote on X: “The floor may have just fallen out from under the Republican campaign for Ohio Governor. And any Republican who fails to distance themselves from this ad risks taking on water as well.”
Donor and national reactions. MK Pritzker, the wife of Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, announced Wednesday that she would donate $500,000 to help Acton in the election. President Donald Trump said, “It’s a very unusual situation to have a mother hate a daughter that much.” He added, “But I don’t think that has anything to do with Vivek.” Vice-President JD Vance said he would like fellow Republicans to stop “whining” about the advertisement and said he was “a little bit disgusted” by criticism from members of his own party.
Campaign strategy. David Lublin, a professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs, told the BBC that attack ads are not new in US politics but said “they have become more intense.” He suggested Ramaswamy’s advertisement could be an indication that his campaign was desperate to swing momentum in his favour.
Polling context. A VoteHub poll released Thursday suggested Acton was leading Ramaswamy by 1%, within the margin of error. The surveys were conducted before the advertisement. If Acton wins, she would be the first Democrat elected as Ohio governor in two decades.
An MSI preview from 4 May covered Ramaswamy’s Republican nomination contest and Acton’s unopposed Democratic nomination. The advertisement and Acton’s response were later developments in the 2026 governor contest, and the advertisement cast a national spotlight on the race.