A bitter clash erupted Tuesday in the Ohio gubernatorial race after an ad surfaced featuring the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton urging voters to reject her daughter.
The video, which spread rapidly across social media, shows Donna Arthur accusing the former Ohio Department of Health director of fabricating details about her upbringing. Acton and her family swiftly fired back, noting that Acton and her brother were removed from Arthur’s custody decades ago following allegations that Arthur’s husband sexually abused Acton as a child.
Dispute over campaign spot and childhood trauma
In the video clip, Arthur calls her daughter a liar and disputes Acton’s public accounts of growing up in extreme poverty, including living in a tent outside Youngstown. “My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself,” Arthur says in the video, according to ABC News.
Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed to reporters Tuesday that the spot originated from his campaign, calling it legitimate and stating that Arthur was not paid, ABC News reported. Other outlets earlier noted the video lacked formal sponsor disclaimers, sparking initial debate over its origin.
Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, issued a fierce rebuke on Tuesday. In a statement released by Acton’s campaign, Stearns said their mother stayed married to the man accused of abusing Acton until his death. Stearns condemned Ramaswamy for turning childhood sexual abuse into political fodder, calling the spot a desperate and despicable attack.
Acton addressed the video Tuesday during an appearance on Spectrum News, stating she would not normalize an opponent who minimized her childhood trauma and weaponized a parent from whom she was removed at age 12 due to severe neglect and abuse.
Historical records substantiate abuse charges
Acton, who gained national prominence directing Ohio’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has previously detailed her traumatic youth in interviews, including a 2019 profile in the Youngstown Vindicator. She recounted shuffling between homes and testifying against her stepfather after he molested her.
Archived police and court records corroborate the core of her account. In August 1978, her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and bound over to a Mahoning County grand jury on a rape charge involving a 12-year-old girl, following an inquiry started by Acton’s biological father. He pleaded not guilty and was indicted before failing to appear in court, according to records obtained by The Associated Press. He died in 2004.
Campaign rhetoric turns deeply personal
The Republican campaign defended questioning Acton’s biography. Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Connie Luck told reporters that Acton was a “serial fabulist” who was avoiding substantive debates and lying about her record, arguing voters should be informed by those who knew her past.
Democratic groups and allies rallied behind Acton. U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman condemned the spot as among the most egregious tactics he had witnessed in politics, while the Democratic Governors Association accused Ramaswamy of engaging in a relentless smear effort.
The gubernatorial race remains tightly contested ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Acton continues to decline debates with Ramaswamy, whom she has labeled dishonest, while both campaigns brace for further scrutiny as Ohio voters weigh the escalating personal attacks.
