Ramaswamy controversy pits Trump, Vance against Ohio GOP establishment

The controversy over Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s mother is pitting President Trump and Vice President Vance against Ohio’s Republican establishment less than two weeks out from Election Day.

A number of Ohio Republicans, including Gov. Mike DeWine and Sen. Jon Husted, have denounced the ad, which features Acton’s mother insinuating her daughter has mental health issues. Acton’s brother later released a statement saying he and his sister have been estranged from their mother since Acton was 12 because their mother stayed married to the man who sexually abused Acton at a young age.

Still, Vance and Trump have offered ardent defenses of Ramaswamy.

Trump called DeWine a “RINO” — meaning “Republican in name only” — and said Ramaswamy “should keep it up” in a lengthy Truth Social post Thursday.

Vance said Wednesday he was “a little bit disgusted” with Republicans “whining” about the advertisement more than they are about Democrats.

Trump and Vance’s reactions stand in stark contrast from many members of Ohio’s Republican establishment.

“The Republicans who are being critical are largely anti-Trump Republicans or very establishment Republicans,” said one Ohio GOP strategist.

The same strategist noted the approach taken by Trump is emblematic of his political instinct to punch back and not back down.

“This is Trump’s attitude. Good, bad or indifferent. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say the word I’m sorry,” the Ohio strategist said.

Husted, who was previously DeWine’s lieutenant governor, said in a statement to The Associated Press that he “would not have run” the ad. DeWine called on Ramaswamy to take down the ad while speaking with reporters, calling the spot “deeply, deeply troubling.”

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) told ABC 6 in Columbus that his office was reviewing complaints over the ad, echoing Husted’s response about what he would do in such a situation.

“I will say that, you know, candidates will answer for their own ads, that, you know, I probably wouldn’t run an ad like that, but every candidate gets to make their own decision,” LaRose told the local outlet.

Other former senior Ohio political figures are speaking out against the ad. Former Gov. John Kasich (R) told MS NOW there “is nothing appropriate about the ad.”

“Any claim of sexual abuse or anything that could lead to the discussion about that has no place in American politics,” Kasich said.

Former Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who Vance replaced in the Senate, said in an interview with Politico on Thursday that the ad “crosses the line” and should be taken down.

“It’s Ohio,” said Chris Johnson, an Ohio Republican strategist. “With candidates like DeWine or Husted, where they are just good, nice guys, they want to go out there and fight for their deeply held conservative values, but they do it in such a way that is very midwestern.”

“They’d much rather be talking about the issues or talking about who the Buckeyes play that weekend,” he added.

The fallout over the ad puts Husted, who has been on the receiving end of Trump’s praise in recent days, in an awkward position.

Husted is facing a formidable challenger in former longtime Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D). According to polling released earlier this week from the Cook Political Report, Brown leads Husted 49 percent to 43 percent. Cook has rated the race as a toss-up.

The incumbent senator was already facing a tough race against Brown, who is considered a staple in Ohio politics. While Husted has won statewide races before as lieutenant governor and as secretary of State, he was not elected to the Senate. Instead, he was appointed by DeWine to replace Vance when he became vice president.

Additionally, the national environment and state of the economy has proven to be another obstacle for Republicans running in tough races.

While the Cook Political Report rates the governor’s race as a toss-up, recent polling shows Ramaswamy trailing Acton. A Marist University poll released Tuesday showed Acton leading Ramaswamy by 7 points, while polling from the Cook Political Report showed her leading by 5 points.

Johnson said he was skeptical the ad, while emblematic of Trump and MAGA World’s style, would persuade undecided swing voters.

“Even if it is swinging for the fences, trying to finish strong down the stretch here, that’s not who you’re trying to convince,” Johnson said. “I worry that once people start looking into this story that it might backfire a little bit.”

Alex Triantafilou, chair of Ohio’s Republican Party, appeared to remain neutral in a social media post, saying he is for the leaders who can turn out voters.

“As State Party Chairman, here’s the score I will always keep: we laud, support, and appreciate those GOP leaders who help turn out our voters and proclaim the good policies and good government of the Republican Party. LET’S GO!” Triantafilou wrote.

The Republican National Committee (RNC), on the other hand, sided with Trump and Vance.

“As President Trump and Vice President Vance have stated, this manufactured outrage is a distraction from what this election is actually about: Amy Acton is too liberal for Ohio, and her far-left agenda would take the state backward,” RNC spokesperson Hunter Lovell said in a statement.

“Keeping Ohio red is a top priority for President Trump, which is why he’s visited the state twice this month with a third rally planned next week. Republicans are united behind Vivek Ramaswamy, who will always put Ohioans first, and help him defeat Liberal Amy Acton on November 3,” he continued.

Trump is slated to take his third visit to Ohio this month, underscoring the importance of both races.

Acton, who previously was not receiving the national attention she is now, has spoken out against the ad in interviews, calling it “despicable.”

On Thursday, her campaign sent out a fundraising appeal about Ramaswamy’s ad, citing Republican division over the spot.

“He’s stooped so low that even Republicans are calling him out,” Acton said in the fundraising email.