Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is defending a controversial campaign advertisement featuring claims from Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who accuses her daughter of lying about her childhood and questions her fitness to serve as governor.
Ramaswamy has committed millions of dollars to run the ad for several weeks across the state. The spot has drawn bipartisan criticism, with President Donald Trump weighing in to defend Ramaswamy's decision.
Acton, the Democratic nominee, publicly responded by saying she and her brother were removed from their mother's custody following accusations of sexual abuse against her stepfather.
Ohio attorney and political strategist Mehek Cooke argues the focus should shift from Ramaswamy's ad to Acton's professional record as state health director under Republican Gov. Mike DeWine during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We clearly can't trust Amy Acton, and she has a record of that," Cooke said.
During her tenure, Acton signed orders closing schools, bars and restaurants, imposing a statewide stay-at-home mandate, restricting nursing-home visitors, closing senior centers and adult daycare facilities, limiting mass gatherings, and shutting gyms and personal-service businesses. She left the position after significant pushback over the lockdowns' impact on Ohio residents and businesses.
Cooke emphasized that while DeWine's name appeared on the orders, Acton's signature was on them.
"She worked as a health director for Mike DeWine and left after masking our children, shutting down our state," Cooke said. "She's the one who pushed for locking down our kids."
Acton secured the Democratic nomination on May 5, 2026, during a primary election in Columbus. Ramaswamy is the Republican nominee, setting up a general election where Acton's pandemic record is now a central campaign issue.
