Ohio Sen. Jon Husted (R) publicly distanced himself from a controversial campaign ad run by Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy that features the mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. In a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday, Husted said he “would not have run” the advertisement, signaling a rare intra-party break over campaign tactics.
The ad, which first appeared online, shows Acton’s mother calling her daughter a “liar” and saying she “needs serious help.” Acton’s campaign quickly responded, revealing that she and her brother have been estranged from their mother for years after Acton was sexually abused by her stepfather, with whom her mother remained until his death. Acton was removed from her mother’s care at age 12.
The spot has drawn sharp rebukes from both parties, with several Republicans joining Democrats in condemning its negative and personal nature. Husted’s comments add to the GOP friction, though he stopped short of calling on Ramaswamy to pull the ad.
Vice President Vance, however, came to Ramaswamy’s defense. Speaking at a press conference Wednesday morning, Vance said he was “disgusted” by Republicans pushing back on the ad. He later rallied with Ramaswamy in Ohio on Wednesday afternoon, reinforcing his support for the nominee.
On the Democratic side, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Husted in the Senate race, called the ad “disgusting” and urged Husted to denounce it. A spokesperson for Husted’s campaign pointed The Hill to the senator’s remarks to the AP.
The controversy comes as Acton and Ramaswamy are locked in a competitive race for Ohio governor. Recent polling shows Acton gaining ground. A Cook Political Report survey released Wednesday put Acton ahead by five points, 49 to 44 percent. Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, gives Acton a 60 percent chance to flip the seat to Democrats in its forecast.
Despite the backlash, Ramaswamy’s campaign is doubling down. Axios reported that the campaign will spend $4 million to air the ad statewide, a significant investment that could keep the controversy in the spotlight through the election.
The ad has also drawn attention from national figures. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s wife donated $500,000 to Acton’s campaign following the ad’s release, underscoring the political fallout. Meanwhile, the episode highlights broader GOP divisions over messaging, as some senators have pushed back on Trump’s foreign policy moves in recent weeks, and watchdogs have accused Trump officials of Hatch Act violations.
Husted’s remarks may reflect a broader concern among some Republicans that such personal attacks could alienate swing voters. Yet Ramaswamy’s team appears confident that the ad will resonate with his base, even as Acton’s campaign uses it to rally supporters and fundraise.
