Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton rebuffs online ad featuring estranged mother

Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio, expressed strong opposition on Tuesday to an unattributed advertisement that has surfaced online. In the ad, her estranged mother alleges that Acton is ‘a liar’ and implies that she has mental health concerns. This controversial ad began circulating shortly before the upcoming Election Day, intensifying the competitive atmosphere of the race against Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has garnered significant financial support exceeding $120 million.

The ad was first shared by an Ohio political blogger and quickly went viral on social media. Notably, it lacks the legally mandated ‘paid for’ disclosure necessary for television advertisements, leaving its source and financial backer unclear. Acton speculated that Ramaswamy might be responsible for it, raising concerns about the negative personal attacks he has a history of making. Ramaswamy’s campaign did not directly respond to questions about the ad.