US midterms 2026: Vivek Ramaswamy pulls ad featuring rival Amy Acton’s estranged mother that drew bipartisan criticism | World News

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has stopped airing a campaign advertisement featuring the estranged mother of his rival, Amy Acton, after the campaign faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats.The advertisement featured Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother, calling her daughter “a liar”. The controversy centred on Arthur’s family history, including the loss of custody of her two children in 1978 after her husband was charged with raping Acton, who was 12 at the time. Acton and her mother have had no contact since then.A Ramaswamy campaign official confirmed to The Washington Post that the advertisement was no longer running, saying it had “rotated off like any ad would”.Ramaswamy also addressed the decision on Thursday when asked by a reporter in Vandalia, Ohio, whether his campaign had stopped broadcasting the advertisement.“It ran to completion, and we put up four other ads,” he said.He added that he wanted the remaining campaign period to focus on policy rather than television advertisements. Ramaswamy also criticised Acton for not agreeing to debate him.The advertisement drew criticism from both parties. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, was among those who called for its withdrawal. The controversy also raised concerns among Republicans that it could affect other candidates on the party’s ticket, including Senate candidate Jon Husted, who said he would not have advertised.However, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy and the campaign’s decision to use the footage. Trump described the criticism as “very unfair” and defended the advertisement in a social media post.“Who wouldn’t use such an Ad? I would, it’s called, ‘hitting pay dirt,’” Trump wrote.Ramaswamy entered the Ohio governor’s race in February 2025 and secured Trump’s endorsement. His campaign has centred on economic growth, tax reductions and changes to the state’s education system.He has proposed eliminating Ohio’s state income tax, lowering property taxes and raising academic standards in public schools.Ramaswamy won the Republican primary in May 2026 and will face Acton, a physician and former director of the Ohio Department of Health, in the general election.