# Ramaswamy campaign releases attack ad featuring Acton's estranged mother calling her 'liar'

The Republican opponent's campaign says it will spend millions promoting a video in which Amy Acton's mother disputes her childhood abuse claims, contradicting court records of her stepfather's arrest.

By The Signal Edition | News / Politics
Published: 2026-10-22T04:15:00Z
Updated: 2026-10-22T05:20:00Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/amyacton-mom-ad-oct2026
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/7cc896c4f407c9176beaf60c548050e8.jpg (Amy Acton, Democratic candidate for Ohio governor; credit: Local 12 News)

## Summary
- Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign released an ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling the Democratic gubernatorial candidate a liar.
- Arthur disputes Acton's accounts of childhood hardship, but Mahoning County court records confirm arrest charges against Acton's stepfather for sexual abuse.
- Ramaswamy campaign says it will spend millions to promote the ad despite backlash from Acton's family.
- Acton told CNN she was 'not stunned' by the attack ad targeting her personal history.

## Attack ad features Acton's estranged mother

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign released an attack advertisement featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who appears on camera calling the Democratic gubernatorial candidate a "liar" and questioning her account of childhood trauma. The ad, first published online October 20, 2026, marks an escalation in the Ohio governor's race as it targets Acton's personal history rather than policy positions. [1](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/democrat-amy-actons-estranged-mother-calls-her-liar-in-ad-court-documents-say-otherwise/) [2](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/21/politics/video/amy-acton-tells-cnn-shes-not-stunned-by-attack-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mother-lead-jake-tapper) [3](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-takes-responsibility-for-controversial-ad-featuring-actons-estranged-mother/)

In the ad, Arthur, who worked at the Children and Family Service Association, says Acton is "a liar" who "lies about her past." Arthur specifically disputes Acton's claim that she grew up living in a tent, stating "None of that is true." The ad does not identify who paid for it, though Ramaswamy's campaign later confirmed responsibility. [1](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/democrat-amy-actons-estranged-mother-calls-her-liar-in-ad-court-documents-say-otherwise/) [4](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ramaswamy-campaign-says-it-produced-ad-with-amy-actons-mother-and-will-spend-millions-to-promote-it)

## Court records contradict mother's claims

Mahoning County court documents obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal corroborate key aspects of Acton's disclosed history. According to arrest records, Acton's stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing Acton when she was 12 years old. Acton has stated the abuse began when she was 10. Police found the stepfather living in a tent when Acton was a child. [1](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/democrat-amy-actons-estranged-mother-calls-her-liar-in-ad-court-documents-say-otherwise/) [5](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/actons-brother-condemns-attack-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mom-in-ohio-governor-race/)

The stepfather pleaded not guilty, posted bond, and subsequently fled, remaining a fugitive until his death in 2004. He was never convicted. Acton's younger brother has stated that their mother lost custody of the children and remained married to the stepfather until his death. [1](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/democrat-amy-actons-estranged-mother-calls-her-liar-in-ad-court-documents-say-otherwise/) [5](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/actons-brother-condemns-attack-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mom-in-ohio-governor-race/)

## Ramaswamy commits to spending millions on ad

Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed October 21 that it produced the advertisement and said it would spend millions promoting it across the state. The Republican candidate defended the ad's messaging despite immediate backlash from Acton's family members and Democratic officials who criticized the strategy as exploiting a sensitive personal matter. [3](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-takes-responsibility-for-controversial-ad-featuring-actons-estranged-mother/) [4](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ramaswamy-campaign-says-it-produced-ad-with-amy-actons-mother-and-will-spend-millions-to-promote-it) [6](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6010530/vivek-ramaswamys-attack-ad-features-mother-of-amy-acton-who-alleges-childhood-abuse)

Acton's brother publicly condemned the ad, and Acton herself told CNN on October 21 that she was "not stunned" by the attack, suggesting the campaign had expected such tactics as the race intensifies. The ad reflects intensifying personal attacks in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race, one of the year's most competitive state elections. [2](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/21/politics/video/amy-acton-tells-cnn-shes-not-stunned-by-attack-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mother-lead-jake-tapper) [7](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6159710-ohio-gubernatorial-race-controversy/) [8](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother-ohio)

## Reporting sources
1. [Ohio Capital Journal: Democrat Amy Acton's estranged mother calls her liar in ad; court documents say otherwise](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/democrat-amy-actons-estranged-mother-calls-her-liar-in-ad-court-documents-say-otherwise/) (2026-10-20)
2. [CNN: Amy Acton tells CNN she's 'not stunned' by attack ad featuring her estranged mother](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/21/politics/video/amy-acton-tells-cnn-shes-not-stunned-by-attack-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mother-lead-jake-tapper) (2026-10-21)
3. [Ohio Capital Journal: Ramaswamy takes responsibility for controversial ad featuring Acton's estranged mother](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-takes-responsibility-for-controversial-ad-featuring-actons-estranged-mother/) (2026-10-21)
4. [PBS NewsHour: Ramaswamy campaign says it produced ad with Amy Acton's mother and will spend millions to promote it](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ramaswamy-campaign-says-it-produced-ad-with-amy-actons-mother-and-will-spend-millions-to-promote-it) (2026-10-21)
5. [Ohio Capital Journal: Acton's brother condemns attack ad featuring her estranged mom in Ohio governor race](https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/10/20/actons-brother-condemns-attack-ad-featuring-her-estranged-mom-in-ohio-governor-race/) (2026-10-20)
6. [NPR: Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad features mother of Amy Acton, who alleges childhood abuse](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6010530/vivek-ramaswamys-attack-ad-features-mother-of-amy-acton-who-alleges-childhood-abuse) (2026-10-21)
7. [The Hill: Amy Acton's mother calls candidate a liar in new election ad](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6159710-ohio-gubernatorial-race-controversy/) (2026-10-20)
8. [Axios: Exclusive: Ramaswamy doubles down on explosive ad featuring rival's mother, despite backlash](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother-ohio) (2026-10-21)