President Donald Trump told Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy to keep running a controversial campaign ad that features his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother, dismissing calls from state party leaders to pull the commercial.
The ad has upended the Ohio governor's race by highlighting critical statements made by Acton's mother, who lost custody of Acton when she was 12 years old. Acton has stated she has not seen her mother since childhood following abuse allegations against her stepfather. While Ohio Governor Mike DeWine publicly urged the Ramaswamy campaign to take down the commercial—calling it "just wrong"—Trump defended its use, arguing that the candidates and their family statements are "fair game" in the election.
The dispute has exposed fractures among prominent Ohio Republicans. While Governor DeWine condemned the ad, Vice President JD Vance criticized fellow party members for "whining" about the commercial and argued that winning the race remains the priority. Meanwhile, election forecasters note that the political fallout from the ad has shifted momentum in the gubernatorial race, making it more favorable to Democrats as the midterm elections approach.
