Amy Acton survived childhood abuse. Her Republican opponent is using it to attack her. - The 19th News
The Ohio gubernatorial race has intensified as Republican Vivek Ramaswamy uses Democrat Amy Acton's history of childhood abuse as a campaign attack. The strategy has drawn criticism from some Republicans and condemnation from Democrats, while national party leaders have encouraged the tactic.
Why it matters
This highlights the increasing polarization and the use of personal trauma as a political weapon in high-stakes US elections.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated throughout.
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is closing out one of the nastiest races of the 2026 cycle by suggesting that Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, his opponent in the Ohio governor’s race, has lied about the well-documented childhood sexual abuse she experienced for political gain.
In a contest already marked by sharp personal attacks and partisan rancor, Ramaswamy’s latest attempt to paint Acton as unfit for office came in the form of a minute-long ad this week featuring Donna Arthur, Acton’s estranged mother.
The tenor of the ad, which platforms a mother whose 12-year-old daughter was sexually abused by her husband while in her custody, has incensed survivors of abuse, motivated Democrats to throw additional resources in the race and prompted prominent Republicans, including current GOP Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, to denounce it.
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Headlinne story · 7 newsrooms
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