Ohio GOP Drops Ramaswamy Ad Early
The campaign halted the spot after spending only a quarter of its planned $4 million budget, following widespread criticism from both parties.
By Grace Sullivan ·
Ohio voters will no longer see a controversial television spot featuring the estranged mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton. Republican challenger Vivek Ramaswamy ended the ad's run on Thursday, cutting a campaign that had drawn sharp criticism from politicians and residents alike.
The campaign originally allocated $4 million to air the commercial. However, data from ad-tracking firm AdImpact indicates the effort consumed only about $1 million before it stopped. Ramaswamy confirmed the decision during a campaign stop in Vandalia on Thursday.
The advertisement featured Donna Arthur, who had not seen her daughter in nearly 50 years. In the spot, Arthur described Acton as a lifelong liar. Their estrangement dates back to 1978, when Arthur lost custody of her children after their stepfather was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12. Ramaswamy initially defended the strategy, though a later version of the ad removed some content.
Support for the ad came from the top of the Republican ticket. President Donald Trump stated he told Ramaswamy to keep the ad running, calling Acton "fair game." Vice President JD Vance also voiced support for the decision. Despite this backing, Ohio's current and former governors, along with alumni from Ramaswamy's Cincinnati Catholic high school, urged him to pull the spot.
Acton's team reacted strongly to the brief media buy. They labeled the advertisement despicable and argued it should never have aired. The campaign further stated that Ramaswamy owed an apology for the timing and content of the spot.
The ad's removal signals a shift in the state's gubernatorial race. With the spending halted, the campaign now focuses on the remaining days of the election cycle without the visual element that divided the national political establishment.
