Vice President JD Vance told Republicans to “stop whining” about Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial advertisement featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother. Speaking to reporters in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Vance emphasized that the final days of the election should focus on winning the race rather than debating the nature of the ad.
Ramaswamy’s ad targeting Acton gained significant attention earlier this week, drawing criticism from both sides of the political aisle in the final stretch of the battleground gubernatorial race. The advertisement includes Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a “liar” and urging voters not to support her. Acton has previously recounted being sexually abused by her mother’s husband during her childhood.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics on the left and within the Democratic camp have condemned the advertisement as an exploitation of personal trauma. Philip Stearns, Acton’s brother, responded to the ad on Tuesday, stating that it was not surprising Ramaswamy had “stooped to such a despicable low” by turning Acton’s childhood abuse into a political talking point. Stearns noted that he and his sister were removed from their mother and stepfather’s custody after the stepfather was arrested.
Acton previously stated in a 2019 interview with The Youngstown Vindicator that she had not seen her mother since a hearing in the 1978 court case against her stepfather. Attempts to reach Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, by phone and email were unsuccessful.
What the Right Is Saying
While some conservative voices criticized the ad, Vice President Vance defended the strategy and urged his party to prioritize electoral victory. Vance stated that “whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern,” noting that his focus remained on who would win the election. He expressed disgust at Republicans who he felt were “whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America.”
During an Ohio rally on Wednesday afternoon, Vance acknowledged the controversy, saying he “wasn’t even supposed to talk about” it but could not help himself. He argued that the media and Democrats were obsessed because Ramaswamy had “the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is and calls Amy Acton a liar.” Vance urged voters to “focus on the substance and focus on the facts.”
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain criticized the ad on X, calling it “dastardly” and stating it “never should have been created.” Additionally, an aide for Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, deleted the Senator's post that had shared the video. The aide, Dan Hauser, apologized and explained the deletion was made “after researching it, and the disturbing allegations.”
What the Numbers Show
Ramaswamy’s campaign team is planning a $4 million statewide advertising push centered around the controversial ad. The election is scheduled for 13 days after Vance’s Wednesday remarks. NBC News previously reported that several members of Ramaswamy’s campaign had previously worked on Vance’s political team, indicating notable overlaps in their political circles.
The Bottom Line
The controversy highlights the tension between political strategy and personal narrative in the Ohio gubernatorial race. With the election approaching, the Republican base is divided between those who view the ad as a necessary political tool and those who find it ethically problematic. The outcome of the race may depend on whether voters prioritize the specific content of the ads or the broader policy positions of the candidates. Ramaswamy’s significant financial commitment to the ad suggests the campaign believes it will resonate with a key segment of the electorate despite the criticism.