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Ramaswamy confirms his campaign produced attack ad featuring Acton's estranged mother

Confirmed1 source · Oct 21, 2026

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy acknowledged Tuesday that his campaign created an ad attacking Democratic opponent Amy Acton using statements from her estranged mother.

Ramaswamy confirms his campaign produced attack ad featuring Acton's estranged mother
Image via The Hill

What happened

Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate, confirmed to reporters on Tuesday evening that his campaign produced an attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother. The ad began circulating on social media Monday night and contains the mother calling Acton a "liar" and insinuating she suffers from mental health issues. Ramaswamy acknowledged that his campaign produced the ad.

Context

The use of a candidate's estranged family member in an attack ad represents a notable tactical choice in a gubernatorial race, raising questions about campaign strategy and the boundaries of opposition advertising. The inclusion of mental health-related insinuations adds a dimension that may attract scrutiny regarding the nature of personal attacks in electoral contests.