Ohio Governor Race Roils as Campaign Ad Sparks Party Split

Ramaswamy released a campaign spot that features Acton’s mother speaking about her daughter. Arthur calls Acton a deceiver in the video. Acton has spoken before about being molested as a child by her mother’s husband. Her brother said their biological mother stayed married to the man who hurt Amy until he died. Acton says she has not seen or spoken to her mother in almost five decades.

Democrats were swift to criticize Ramaswamy for turning a painful family chapter into a political weapon. Many Republicans also distanced themselves, including Governor DeWine and Senator Husted. DeWine called the ad deeply troubling and asked Ramaswamy to pull it. Vice President Vance urged fellow party members to stop complaining and focus on winning. President Trump praised the spot as powerful and took a swipe at DeWine.

The move suggests Ramaswamy believes he is behind Acton but not by a large margin. Taking such a risky attack is unusual for a candidate with a comfortable lead. His team seems to think the controversy will help close the gap, even if the message is weak. Several campaign experts think the ad is a losing gamble and could hurt Husted and other Republicans on the same ballot.

In the Senate battle, Black voters are seen as a decisive group. In Michigan, former Representative Rogers opened an office in Detroit, a city where most residents are Black. Detroit has helped Democrats win in the past, and Rogers hopes to win over voters who are skeptical of his opponent. He recently visited a local bar, poured drinks, and posed for photos with patrons.