Posted on 10/21/2026 8:13:14 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is doubling down on a controversial ad featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother, but it seems to be catastrophically backfiring on him as his odds of winning the election have cratered.
In the ad, Donna Arthur, the candidate’s estranged mother who lost custody of her and her younger brother when Acton was 12, lambasts her daughter as a “liar” and urges viewers not to vote for her. Acton has publicly spoken about her troubled childhood for years, well before she ran for office, including the reason her mother lost custody: documented neglect and abuse, including Acton’s stepfather sexually abusing her from the ages of 9 to 12. Arthur sided with her husband against her daughter and the two have not spoken since she lost custody.
The ad drew swift and vociferous condemnation from a chorus of bipartisan voices, with many prominent conservatives declaring the ad made them more sympathetic towards Acton. Her campaign shared a statement and then a video message from her brother denouncing Ramaswamy for “platforming their estranged and abusive mother,” and National Review and other media outlets dug up the legal documents confirming Acton’s story, all of which increased the criticism of Ramaswamy.
It was not initially clear who paid for the ad, as it was circulating online without a disclaimer (apparently provided directly to conservative influencers, many of whom declared it a “bombshell” and devastating “October surprise”). The Ramaswamy campaign issued a statement that neither denied nor condemned the ad, instead attacking Acton as a “serial fabulist,” but the campaign and even the candidate himself did admit it was their ad a few hours later.
Ramaswamy campaign manager Jonathan Ewing told Axios the campaign was dropping $4 million to televise the ad across Ohio and declared “this is a campaign-ending moment for Amy Acton.”
Ewing may be right about it being a “campaign-ending moment,” but for his own candidate, not Acton.
Ramaswamy was already slipping behind Acton in the polling, with CNN data guru Harry Enten marveling at Ramaswamy’s “worst this century” polling among Ohio independents the day before the ad was shared.
The latest numbers from prediction market Polymarket show Ramaswamy got a minor, one-point bump on Tuesday morning, around the time the ad first started spreading online, but then his numbers cratered amid the bipartisan backlash as the day went on and reporting confirmed Acton’s story.
Polymarket’s political gamblers currently give Ramaswamy only a 22% chance of winning, nudging up from his low of 21% on Wednesday afternoon. The graph shows Ramaswamy was already on a downward trajectory and then his numbers plummeted as outrage about the ad grew throughout the day. Acton currently has a 79% chance of winning, according to Polymarket.
You really think that Ohioans are going to vote for an adherent of a demonic religion who got rich through a pump and dump stock scheme?
You really think that Ohioans are going to vote for an adherent of a demonic religion who got rich through a pump and dump stock scheme?
You really think that Ohioans are going to vote for an adherent of a demonic religion who got rich through a pump and dump stock scheme?
You really think that Ohioans are going to vote for an adherent of a demonic religion who got rich through a pump and dump stock scheme?
And yet, in Texas, the Democrats continue to air outright lies about Ken Paxton’s plea deal with Adam Hoffman with no blowback.
The truth is Paxton did prosecute Adam Hoffman, and there was a mistrial when the jury couldn’t reach a verdict. The judge declared a mistrial. At that point, the parents of the little boy Adam Hoffman molested decided it was too traumatic for him to testify a second time. He was the ONLY witness for the prosecution. No accuser, no witness, equals no trial.
Ok, misanthrope. That was October .11th, It has gotten redder every day since then.
Ok, misanthrope. That was October .11th, It has gotten redder every day since then.
Realclearpolitics Betting Odds average in the 2024 general election was 60% Trump, 38.6% Harris.
As opposed to the adherent of a demonic mindset that shutv down schools, locked down the state, and then had a breakdown when she got serious pushback?
Howdy, Cowboy! I provided a source and ask you to return the favor.
Cat got your tongue?
It’s gonna be a reverse 2022. Dems win the House, GOP stays at 53 seats in the Senate.
On Election Day 2016, the RCP betting-odds page, using data from PredictWise, showed approximately 88% probability for Clinton and 13% for Trump
Not just ugly politics. They completely dismiss sexual abuse she experienced and her own mother ignored. More voters learn about her past see her being victimized all over again by the same people who did so for her entire life.
Whoever thought this was a good idea or didn’t bother digging into things before hand should never work in politics again.
All this will make for an interesting table conversation at the Acton household this Thanksgiving.
I’m sure he isn’t going to be asked about this repulsive ad
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Not so. I’m certain Vance will be asked and he will have an ready answer.
You REALLY should look into this more before commenting.
Bad news. This chick should be nowhere near elected office.
Goofy ‘merican love blowing stuff these days.
OPEN DA BORDERS! Let all the scum on the planet come into America!!! VOTE FOR THE DEMONRAT PARTY OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA!
OPEN DA BORDERS! Let all the scum on the planet come into America!!! VOTE FOR THE DEMONRAT PARTY OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA!
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