Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has pulled his controversial advertisement that featured the mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, after the spot finished its scheduled run. The decision comes after weeks of intense backlash from both parties, with critics accusing Ramaswamy of exploiting a painful family tragedy for political gain.
The ad, which had been backed by millions of dollars in spending, showed Acton's mother calling her daughter a "liar" and urging Ohioans not to elect her. The campaign had defended the ad even as criticism mounted, but Ramaswamy confirmed at a rally Thursday that it had run its course and that the campaign had "put up four other ads," according to the Columbus Dispatch.
The controversy escalated when Acton's campaign revealed that she had been removed from her mother's custody at age 12 after being sexually abused by her stepfather, who her mother remained with until his death. The disclosure prompted rare bipartisan condemnation, including from Ohio's Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who called the ad "deeply, deeply troubling."
"When you know the back story ... it makes it just more wrong," DeWine said, adding that the ad crossed a line that should not be crossed in political discourse.
Despite the outcry, Ramaswamy received vigorous backing from President Trump and Vice President Vance, both of whom defended the ad and attacked Acton's campaign for what they characterized as a smear of Ramaswamy's own mother. The president's support underscored the national significance of the race and the alignment of Ramaswamy with the administration's political strategy.
Acton's campaign spokesperson, Addie Bullock, responded to the ad's removal with sharp criticism, saying Ramaswamy "never should have run the ad" and that he took it off the air "in the most cowardly way possible, without even the hint of an apology to Dr. Acton, her family, or to the people of Ohio."
The ad's fallout has drawn national attention to an already expensive and fiercely contested race. Ramaswamy was trailing in polls before the ad aired, and nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, currently gives Acton a 61 percent chance of winning the governorship.
The episode has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over negative campaigning and personal attacks. The bipartisan outrage over the ad highlighted the risks candidates take when they venture into deeply personal territory, and the backfire may have shifted momentum in the race, with some analysts suggesting it boosted Acton's public profile and sympathy.
Ramaswamy has not apologized for the ad, and his campaign has signaled it will continue to press its case against Acton on other issues. But the removal of the ad marks a significant retreat after weeks of defiant messaging, and it remains to be seen whether the damage to his campaign is lasting.
As the election approaches, Acton's resilience in the face of the attack has become a central theme, and Democrats are hoping the controversy will galvanize voters in her favor. The race is now a key test of whether such aggressive tactics can succeed in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles.
