Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has not spoken publicly about her mother since 2019, when she disclosed that her stepfather, Cledith “Bud” Arthur, raped her as a child. Arthur pleaded not guilty and fled before a conviction could be secured, and warrants were issued for his arrest. Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, remained married to Arthur after the allegations surfaced and later appeared in a political advertisement produced by the campaign of Republican Senate candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The ad, which began circulating online this week, prompted Acton’s campaign to issue a statement describing her mother as “deeply sick and unwell.”

Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed it had funded the advertisement and defended its use, stating the race should focus on substantive policy rather than personal attacks. The ad’s release coincided with criticism from Ohio Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, who accused Democrats and the media of fixating on the commercial rather than broader national issues. Vance argued that the advertisement merely highlighted Acton’s alleged dishonesty.

Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, responded to the ad by calling it “despicable” and emphasizing that it weaponized her childhood trauma. He noted that their mother stayed married to Arthur until his death, despite his 1996 arrest and the subsequent removal of Acton and her brother from the home. The campaign also referenced a prior advertisement featuring an Ohio farmer whose husband had a history of convictions related to minor victims, which was later edited to remove him after public scrutiny.

The ad’s messaging has drawn attention for its direct reference to Acton’s personal history, with her campaign maintaining that her mother’s actions constitute a betrayal of her experience. No further details about the ad’s production or distribution timeline were provided beyond its emergence in the final days before the election.