COLUMBUS, Ohio (Diya TV) — Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed it produced an ad in which his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother calls her a liar. The campaign plans to spend $4 million promoting the spot, which has drawn criticism from Acton’s family and members of both parties.
The one-minute ad, which surfaced online Monday, features Donna Arthur accusing Acton of lying about her childhood, including her account of living in a tent. “She is a liar. She lies about her past,” Arthur says. The campaign said Arthur was not paid to appear.
Ramaswamy defended the ad, saying he wants voters to focus on issues affecting Ohio and accusing Acton of avoiding those issues and refusing to debate him. His campaign spokesperson called Acton a “serial fabulist” and said voters should hear criticism from people who know her. Ramaswamy has said he never met Arthur.
Acton says she has had no contact with her mother since she was 12. She has described being sexually abused by her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, and experiencing homelessness as a child. Her brother, Philip Stearns, says their mother remained married to Cledith Arthur after the children were removed from her custody. He accused Ramaswamy of turning his sister’s childhood into a campaign issue.
Court records document that Cledith Arthur faced a rape charge involving Acton when she was under 13. He pleaded not guilty, posted bond and left Ohio. The case did not go to trial, and he was not convicted. The records document the charge; they do not establish guilt.
Vice President JD Vance, campaigning in Ohio Wednesday, said he was “disgusted” that Republicans were criticizing the ad more than Democratic policies. He did not say whether he considered the ad appropriate, but said he believes Acton is unfit to govern.
Acton has called the ad an exploitation of her family history. Her campaign released a response video featuring Stearns, who defended her account of their childhood. The dispute has put the candidates’ personal histories at the center of the governor’s race in its final weeks.
