Amy Acton weathered some of the most vicious attacks during her campaign to become governor of Ohio. Acton, the former state health director, leads with 50.7% to Ramaswamy’s 46%, according to the Associated Press. She will succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican.
This race drew national attention when Vivek Ramaswamy put out an ad featuring the candidate’s mother calling her a liar. The backlash was swift and steady, with many characterizing the tactic as unfair, immoral, and mean. Other ads portrayed Acton as a drunk and incompetent.
The attack ad featured Acton’s estranged mother, whose husband was charged with sexually abusing Acton. Her mother stayed with the husband. Acton, showed remarkable compassion toward her mother and criticized Ramaswamy for using a “woman who is not well”.