{"id":2689250,"date":"2026-10-21T21:43:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T01:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/did-vivek-ramaswamy-go-too-far-some-republicans-object-as-he-doubles-down-on-controversial-attack-ad\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T21:43:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T01:43:01","slug":"did-vivek-ramaswamy-go-too-far-some-republicans-object-as-he-doubles-down-on-controversial-attack-ad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/did-vivek-ramaswamy-go-too-far-some-republicans-object-as-he-doubles-down-on-controversial-attack-ad\/","title":{"rendered":"Did Vivek Ramaswamy Go Too Far? Some Republicans Object as He Doubles Down on Controversial Attack Ad"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdid-vivek-ramaswamy-go-too-far-some-republicans-object-as-he-doubles-down-on-controversial-attack-ad%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2689250&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Political attack ads aren\u2019t exactly known for their subtlety, but a controversial new commercial in Ohio\u2019s gubernatorial race has sparked a debate over just how personal those attacks should get.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/10\/21\/ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother-ohio\">Axios<\/a> reported Tuesday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy\u2019s campaign is spending $4 million to promote an advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, accusing her daughter of dishonesty.<\/p>\n<p>The ad has drawn criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike, particularly because Acton has publicly accused her mother of failing to protect her from childhood sexual abuse.<\/p>\n<p>The minute-long commercial features Donna Arthur, Acton\u2019s mother, directly challenging her daughter\u2019s account of her upbringing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe lies about her past,\u201d Arthur says. \u201cShe\u2019s lied her entire life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Arthur also disputes Acton\u2019s claims that she experienced homelessness as a child, including living in a tent outside Youngstown, Ohio.<\/p>\n<p>There is, however, considerable documentation supporting Acton\u2019s account. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/news\/amy-actons-mom-claims-candidate-lied-about-childhood-in-attack-ad-despite-extensive-record-of-abuse\/\">National Review<\/a> reported that court records corroborate key elements of her childhood history, including criminal charges brought against her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, for alleged sexual contact with Acton when she was 12.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet reported that Acton and her younger brother were removed from their mother\u2019s custody. Her brother, Philip Stearns, said their mother remained married to Acton\u2019s alleged abuser until his death.<\/p>\n<p>Acton, who has publicly discussed her childhood trauma since at least 2019, responded Tuesday by accusing Ramaswamy of exploiting her family\u2019s painful history for political purposes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve always known that she was deeply sick and unwell, and it\u2019s sad to see Vivek Ramaswamy exploit her all for his own political gain,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The backlash wasn\u2019t limited to Democrats. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/tv\/cnns-maga-panelists-trash-vivek-ramaswamy-over-disgusting-acton-attack-ad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mediaite<\/a>, Republican pundits Scott Jennings and Jason Rantz questioned the move from Ramaswamy on a recent CNN panel discussion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is extremely risky,\u201d Jennings noted.<\/p>\n<p>Rantz took things a step further and called the ad \u201cunbelievably disgusting\u201d and an \u201cindictment\u201d of Ramaswamy more than of Acton.<\/p>\n<p>Not every conservative agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Donald Trump Jr. encouraged Ohio voters to watch the commercial and consider its implications, while Ramaswamy\u2019s campaign defended the decision to run it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a campaign-ending moment for Amy Acton. The people who know her best keep warning Ohioans about her,\u201d campaign manager Jonathan Ewing told Axios.<\/p>\n<p>And the campaign apparently has some research supporting its confidence.<\/p>\n<p>Sources close to Ramaswamy told Axios that the advertisement performed well among persuadable voters during testing, prompting the multimillion-dollar statewide rollout.<\/p>\n<p>That distinction matters. An advertisement can provoke widespread condemnation among political commentators while producing a different reaction among voters.<\/p>\n<p>Campaigns routinely make decisions based on information unavailable to the general public, and the response to this commercial remains an open question.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the controversy raises questions about whether attacking Acton\u2019s credibility through her estranged mother invites greater scrutiny of the mother\u2019s own history.<\/p>\n<p>That is particularly notable given the state of the race. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/kalshi.com\/markets\/govpartyoh\/ohio-governor\/govpartyoh-26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kalshi\u2019s<\/a> prediction markets, Ramaswamy\u2019s odds of becoming Ohio\u2019s next governor are at an all-time low.<\/p>\n<p>For now, Ramaswamy\u2019s campaign is standing behind an advertisement that has generated both support and sharp criticism from within his own political coalition.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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As Axios reported Tuesday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy\u2019s campaign is spending $4 million to promote an advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2689251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-21T204328.241.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2689250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-21T204328.241.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2689250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2689250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2689251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2689250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2689250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2689250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}