Amy Acton calls Ramaswamy ad featuring estranged mother ‘terrible and despicable’, has ‘no intention’ of speaking to him

Ohio Governor-elect Amy Acton has ruled out any conversation with her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, after his campaign ran an ad featuring her estranged mother, describing the move as “terrible and despicable”In her first television interview since defeating Ramaswamy in Tuesday’s 2026 gubernatorial election, Acton was asked on CBS Mornings whether she had spoken to her former opponent.Ramaswamy had said during his concession speech that he called Acton and left her a message congratulating her on the victory.“I have no intention of speaking to him,” Acton said. “I do believe that leaders' words matter, and we need to hold folks accountable.”The controversy centred on a campaign advertisement featuring Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, who called her daughter a “liar”. Acton has been estranged from her mother since she was 12.Acton and her brother were taken out of their mother's care following allegations of sexual abuse by their stepfather, Cledith Arthur, who was arrested and charged with raping Acton when she was between 10 and 12. Her brother later said their mother continued to be married to Arthur until he died in 2004.The advertisement drew criticism from Democrats as well as several prominent Republicans, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Senator Jon Husted. President Donald Trump, however, defended the campaign's decision to run it, calling the advertisement “very powerful” and saying he had urged Ramaswamy not to take it down.Acton said the decision to feature her estranged mother in the campaign was unacceptable. “I would like to say I didn't expect this, but there was no low my opponent wouldn't sink to,” she said, adding that the campaign advertisements had been filled with “lies and hate and vitriol”.She also questioned the motive behind the advertisement, suggesting Ramaswamy had used it because his campaign was struggling. Referring to her birth mother, Acton said it was “clear” that she “was not well”.Calling the advertisement “a terrible and despicable thing to do”, Acton said voters had grown tired of political hostility and wanted elected officials focused on solving problems.“I'm a scrappy kid from Youngstown. I'm not afraid of a fight, but kindness isn't weakness, and that is a big message we saw. People are ready for public service, unity, and decency,” she said.Beyond the campaign controversy, Acton also discussed some of the priorities she intends to pursue as Ohio's next governor.Data centres were among the issues she highlighted during her campaign. She supported a conditional moratorium on new facilities, arguing that their development should not come at the expense of the state's natural resources and communities.Acton said she wanted to protect Ohio's air and water while bringing well-paid union jobs to the state.“We are open for business, but we're not for sale, and we're not to be exploited,” she said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.