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JD Vance 'Disgusted' by Republican Backlash
Hannah Parry
9–12 minutes

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday he was "a little bit disgusted" by Republican criticism of Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial campaign
advertisement targeting Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton,
as he urged members of his party to instead focus on winning the election.

"Whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern," Vance
told reporters while visiting an FBI field office in Cincinnati. "What is
my concern is who's going to govern the next generation of American government?

"I have to admit that I'm a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans
across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they
are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do
to the United States of America."

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a stop at the FBI Cincinnati Field Office on October 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a stop at the FBI Cincinnati Field Office on October 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton's estranged mother, accusing her
daughter of lying about the years of abuse she suffered as a child.

The ad has sparked criticism from Republicans and Democrats. Conservative commentator Meghan McCain called it "dastardly," while Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik said there were lines in politics that should not be crossed. Former Senator Sherrod Brown, the Democratic
candidate in Ohio's U.S. Senate race, also condemned the video.

Ramaswamy acknowledged Tuesday that the ad came from his campaign, arguing that Acton's record and statements deserved scrutiny.

Vance, however, said Republicans should concentrate on defeating Acton and supporting Republican Senator Jon Husted, who is running against Brown.

"Politics is a tough business," Vance said, citing attacks against himself, Ramaswamy and President Donald Trump's family.

His message to Republican officials was blunt: "Stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days."

The remarks come as Ramaswamy faces mounting scrutiny in the closely
watched Ohio governor's race. Several recent polls have shown Acton
leading, although other surveys have indicated a tighter contest ahead of Election Day on November 3.

Newsweek has reached out to the Acton and Ramaswamy campaigns for comment.

The approximately one-minute ad features Arthur speaking directly to the camera about her daughter, urging Ohio voters not to elect Acton governor.

"I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent—and it's
not easy for a mother to say this—but Amy has a serious problem," Arthur
says in the video. "She is a liar. She lies about her past."

Arthur also challenges Acton's account of her childhood, including reports that she experienced housing instability and spent time living in a tent.

"Don't vote for people who lie. Don't let her become your governor," Arthur says.

The allegations made in the ad have not been independently verified.
Published reporting, however, has documented Acton's difficult childhood, including frequent moves and a period when she lived at a campground.

The ad's personal nature has drawn particular scrutiny because Acton has
said she was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child and removed from
her birth mother's custody at age 12.

Acton has said her mother did not protect her from the abuse. Her brother, Philip Stearns, has publicly defended Acton's account of their childhood.

According to reporting by the Associated Press, Acton's stepfather was
charged with raping her when she was 12. He pleaded not guilty and was indicted by a grand jury in 1978. However, he failed to appear at a court hearing and remained a fugitive until at least 1981. He has since died.

The ad initially circulated online without clearly identifying its sponsor. Ramaswamy's campaign subsequently acknowledged producing it and announced plans to spend $4 million promoting the spot.

Ramaswamy defended the ad Tuesday, telling reporters he wanted the election
to focus on issues affecting Ohioans but arguing that Acton's record and statements deserved scrutiny.

His campaign spokesperson, Connie Luck, separately accused Acton of
repeatedly making false statements about Ramaswamy and his family.

Acton condemned the ad, accusing Ramaswamy of exploiting her traumatic childhood for political gain.

The ad has prompted criticism from Republicans, conservative commentators
and Democrats, creating an unusual divide within the GOP during the final stretch of the campaign.

McCain wrote on X: "It never should have been created. Shame on whatever consultant firm created this."

Mihalik, who works under Republican Governor Mike DeWine, wrote on X: "I
don't care what political party you belong to or which candidate you
support. There are lines we shouldn't cross, and this is one of them."

Casey Putsch, who competed against Ramaswamy in the Republican primary,
called him "revolting" and said he would work to ensure that the 2024 presidential candidate did not win this election.

"I’m a Republican, but I’m crossing party lines to vote for Amy and end Vivek’s political future in America," he said. "Amy, may you lead Ohio with compassion for everybody and our future as normal people together."

Dan Hauser, a strategist for Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah,
apologized on X and said he deleted a post sharing the ad after learning
about the serious allegations surrounding the family's history.

Other conservative voices have warned that the ad could backfire
politically.

Republican strategist David Urban questioned the wisdom of the approach on CNN, while conservative commentator Mary Katharine Ham said that the
campaign was taking a considerable risk by assuming the personal attack
would resonate with voters.

The backlash has not been universal. Donald Trump Jr. and conservative influencer Laura Loomer have defended Ramaswamy, with Trump Jr. encouraging voters to watch the ad and consider its implications.

Democrats have been more uniformly critical. Brown described the ad as "disgusting" and said Republicans should condemn it.

Acton's brother issued a forceful response, accusing Ramaswamy of
exploiting his sister's history of childhood abuse for political purposes.
Who Is Amy Acton?

A physician, Acton served as Ohio's public health director from 2019 to
2020 under DeWine, helping lead the state's initial response to the COVID-
19 pandemic.

Her tenure made her a prominent figure in the state's public health
response, while the restrictions and decisions associated with that period have also become targets of Republican criticism.

Acton's campaign has emphasized affordability, public education and health care, while Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur endorsed by President Donald Trump, has campaigned on deregulation and conservative education reforms.

Acton has also spoken publicly about her childhood, including housing instability and abuse. She has said she was removed from her birth mother's custody at age 12 following severe abuse and neglect, including sexual
abuse.
Vivek Ramaswamy Vs. Amy Acton: What Latest Polls Show

The controversy comes as polling suggests the race is competitive, with several recent surveys showing Acton ahead.

A Marist poll conducted October 15-18 among 1,176 respondents showed Acton leading 50 percent to 43 percent among likely voters. The poll had a margin
of error of 4.5 percentage points. A Bowling Green State University
Democracy and Public Policy Network/YouGov survey conducted September 29- October 9 showed Acton ahead 50 percent to 44 percent.

Other surveys have indicated a tighter contest.

An ActiVote poll fielded September 27-October 19 showed Ramaswamy leading
51.4 percent to 48.6 percent among 400 likely voters. Its margin of error
was 4.9 percentage points, putting the candidates within the poll's
expected range of error.

The Hill and Decision Desk HQ's polling average on October 21 showed Acton
at 49 percent and Ramaswamy at 45.6 percent.

It is too early to determine whether the controversy surrounding the advertisement will materially affect the candidates' standing, but
Ramaswamy's decision to spend $4 million promoting the ad suggests his campaign believes it could help persuade undecided voters, despite the criticism from some Republicans.
Biggest Issues for Ohio Voters

Beyond the ad, the race is focused on the economy, affordability, education and healthcare.

Acton has emphasized the cost of living, public education and access to healthcare while seeking to use her experience as the state's former public health director to make her case to voters.

Ramaswamy has promoted deregulation and conservative education reforms
while criticizing Acton's record during the pandemic, including decisions involving school and business closures.

Republicans have also sought to make cultural issues, including transgender participation in women's sports, part of the broader political debate.
Vance referenced those issues in his remarks Wednesday while arguing that Republicans should concentrate on the differences between the candidates.

The campaign has also become exceptionally expensive. Cleveland.com
reported that Ramaswamy and allied outside groups had spent or reserved
more than $97 million in television and radio advertising as of the
previous week.

With Election Day approaching, the central question is whether the
controversy will fade as voters return to economic and policy concerns—or become a defining feature of Ramaswamy's campaign.
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