Ramaswamy doubles down on ad of Acton's estranged mother with $4M buy

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is doubling down on a controversial ad featuring his opponent's estranged mother with a $4 million buy.

The ad, which leaked Oct. 19, features the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton accusing the candidate of lying about her upbringing. Acton hasn't spoken to her mother since 1978, when her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was accused of sexually abusing her as a child.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, and court records reviewed by the statehouse bureau back up Acton's account of a childhood filled with abuse, neglect and at times, homelessness. Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, lost custody of her two children and left Ohio with Cledith before the rape case against him could be resolved.

"It's not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at 12 years old from our birth mother's husband into a political talking point," Stearns said.

But Ramaswamy is airing that ad anyway. The Republican candidate said people close to Acton, including a mother she has not spoken to in 48 years, have urged Ohioans not to vote for her.

"This is part of a pattern of someone else who appears to know her well who says the same thing, and I do think that it's important for voters to take all of that into account," Ramaswamy told the statehouse bureau.

The ad features Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, urging voters not to pick Acton for governor.

"If you think she'll make your life better, you're fooling yourself," Arthur said in a 60-second ad cut by the Ramaswamy campaign. Ramaswamy said Acton's mother wasn't paid to appear in the spot.

The ad is at least the second time Arthur has publicly accused her daughter of lying. Arthur detailed concerns about Acton's backstory to an anti-abortion group in 2020 while Acton was serving as state health director.

Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed it will spend $4 million on the spot before Election Day, Nov. 3.

What does the record show about Acton's childhood?

Acton detailed her troubled home life and her mother's neglect in a Youngstown Vindicator article published in August 2019. She described living in "18 or so" homes, including one unfinished basement, before turning 12. She recalled Arthur's many boyfriends and their frequent moves. At one point, they lived in a tent outside of Youngstown, Acton told the Vindicator.

According to Acton, the situation escalated when her stepfather sexually abused her at age 12. Austintown Police arrested Cledith Arthur in summer 1978 for the rape of a 12-year-old girl "following an investigation initiated by the girl's father," the Youngstown Daily Vindicator reported at the time .

Cledith Arthur left the state before the case could be resolved. A warrant was issued for his arrest in October 1978 and December 1981, according to court records provided to the statehouse bureau. A records request has been filed with the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, and they are working to pull records on the case from 1978.

"I received a lot of abuse, but Amy always got the worst of it. She continued to receive that abuse because she knew she had to protect me from that, and if she hadn't done that, who knows where I would have ended up," Stearns said.

Acton's campaign launched a response ad featuring her brother talking about how Acton protected him during their difficult childhood. Acton also addressed the ad on her social media:

"Growing up in Youngstown, my brother Phil and I endured abuse, hunger, and neglect − even spending one winter homeless living in a tent. We were often kept in a dark basement, were frequent-fliers with child protective services, and lived in fear of our birth mother's violent and erratic temper," Acton said in a statement. "Between the ages of 10 and 12, I was sexually abused by her husband, while my birth mother did nothing to protect me. I've always known that she was deeply sick and unwell, and it's sad to see Vivek Ramaswamy exploit her all for his own political gain."

"Eventually, I confided in my father and stepmother, and we were removed from that situation. My birth mother's husband was arrested, charged with rape, and indicted by a grand jury. At 12 years old, I testified in court. I haven't seen my birth mother since that day in 1978. She and her husband fled the state and he was declared a fugitive," she wrote.

State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X .