Coverage dated October 19, 2026 to October 26, 2026

President Obama, Dr. Amy Acton discuss controversial Ramaswamy ad at rally

Headline from FOX 8 Cleveland, from the development of Oct 23, 2026

Newest development Oct 26, 2026 · 3 reportsRamaswamy humanized his opponent and dehumanized himself

Inevitably, both former President Obama and Dr. Acton spoke about the controversial ad that was run by her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy.

FOX 8 Cleveland's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

5 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Ramaswamy takes credit for attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother

    Headline from WOWK Charleston ·

  2. Trump backs Ramaswamy on ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother

    Headline from News Nation Now ·

  3. Trump doubles down on defending Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad against Amy Acton

    Headline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth ·

  4. Names this update

    President Obama, Dr. Amy Acton discuss controversial Ramaswamy ad at rally

    Headline from FOX 8 Cleveland ·

  5. Newest

    Ramaswamy humanized his opponent and dehumanized himself

    Headline from The Hill ·

11 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

280 articles, oldest first.

  1. Just the News

    Amy Acton's family denounces attack ad featuring her mother (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    Acton on Tuesday published a statement from her brother, Philip Stearns, denouncing the ad and highlighting that Arthur had lost custody of them when they were children.

  2. Just the News

    Brother of Ohio Democrat governor nominee Acton denounces attack ad featuring their estranged mom (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    Acton holds a 3.7% lead in the race against GOP challeger Vivek Ramaswamy, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average, with two weeks before Election Day.

  3. Newsweek

    Amy Acton’s Mother Calls Her a ‘Liar’ in Brutal Ad As Ohio Race Tightens (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    “She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true,” a woman who says she is Amy Acton's mother says in a viral video.

  4. Independent Journal Review

    Ramaswamy Campaign to Spend $4 Million on Ad With Acton’s Estranged Mother (opens Independent Journal Review)

    Published

    Independent Journal Review's feed description

    An ad featuring Ohio Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother calls her a liar and urges voters not to elect her, disputing Acton’s account of childhood homelessness. Acton’s brother condemned the ad as politicizing her childhood sexual abuse; the ad’s sponsor is unclear, and Acton has previously descr…

  5. Townhall

  6. Not The Bee

    Ohio Democrat Faces Attack Ad From … Her Mom? (opens Not The Bee)

    Published

    Not The Bee's feed description

    Never in all my years have I seen a political ad quite like this.

  7. Breitbart News

    Nolte: Amy Acton’s Mother Films Ad Against ‘Liar’ Amy Acton — Acton Responds (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Donna Arthur, the mother of Amy Acton, a Democrat running to become Ohio’s next governor, appears in a campaign ad urging voters not to vote for her own daughter.

  8. New York Post

    Democrat’s mom urges Ohio to vote against ‘liar’ daughter in brutal ad — but Amy Acton’s family says truth is even more jarring (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    A brutal spot of Ohio Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Dr. Amy Acton's birth mother denouncing her and warning voters to stay away has prompted her campaign to accuse GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy of elevating an abuse enabler.

  9. Washington Examiner

    Ohio ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother backfires on Ramaswamy campaign (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign took a hit from critics on Tuesday, after an ad featuring his rival’s mother denouncing her daughter circulated in the Ohio race. In the ad, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, tells viewers not to vote for her daug…

  10. The Daily Caller

    Attack Ad Featuring Ohio Democrat’s ‘Abusive’ Mom Backfires On Vivek Ramaswamy (opens The Daily Caller)

    Published

    The Daily Caller's feed description

    ‘A despicable low’

  11. Forbes

    Ohio Governor Race Gets Deeply Personal: New Anti-Amy Acton Ad Features Woman Claiming She’s Acton’s Mother (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    It’s unclear who is responsible for the advertisement.

  12. Toledo Blade

    Political attack ad features Dr. Acton’s estranged mother (opens Toledo Blade)

    Published

    Toledo Blade's feed description

    COLUMBUS — Dr. Amy Acton’s estranged mother is attacking her daughter in a new political advertisement being shared on social media.

  13. FOX 8 Cleveland

    Acton's estranged mother calls her a 'liar'; brother calls Ramaswamy 'despicable' (opens FOX 8 Cleveland)

    Published

    FOX 8 Cleveland's feed description

    Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s (D) mother called her a “liar” in a new ad, as her brother labelled the video “a despicable low” on Tuesday ahead of the state’s elections in November. “I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent — it is not easy for a mother to [...]

  14. Rolling Stone

    Dem Candidate’s Family Rips Vivek Ramaswamy Over ‘Despicable’ Attack Ad (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Amy Acton's brother slammed the MAGA Republican over an ad featuring the siblings' estranged mother

  15. Cleveland Plain Dealer

    Amy Acton’s estranged mother accuses her of lying about childhood trauma as governor’s race turns darker (opens Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    Published

    Cleveland Plain Dealer's feed description

    An explosive new video circulating online features Acton’s estranged mother accusing her daughter of lying about her traumatic childhood and urging Ohioans not to elect her governor.

  16. MyNorthwest

    Democrat Amy Acton in Ohio pushes back against unattributed ad featuring her estranged mother (opens MyNorthwest)

    Published

    MyNorthwest's feed description

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor who has made no secret of a difficult childhood that included homelessness and sexual abuse, pushed back forcefully Tuesday against an unattributed ad circulating online in which her long-estranged mother calls her “a li…

  17. WFMZ Allentown

    Democrat in Ohio governor's race pushes back against unattributed ad featuring her estranged mother (opens WFMZ Allentown)

    Published

    WFMZ Allentown's feed description

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, pushed back forcefully Tuesday against an unattributed ad circulating online in which her long-estranged mother calls her “a liar” and insinuates she has mental health issues.

  18. MS Now

    Brother of Democrat in Ohio governor’s race condemns attack ad featuring their estranged mother (opens MS Now)

    Published

    MS Now's feed description

    Acton accused her stepfather of sexually abusing her as a child, and her mother, who has denied those allegations, calls Acton “a liar” in the ad.

  19. Local News 8

    Ohio governor’s race roiled by new viral video featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    By Patrick Svitek, CNN (CNN) — The Ohio governor’s race is being roiled by a new video in which the estranged mother of the Democratic nominee, Amy Acton, urges people not to vote for her. The video – which was shared widely on social media, including by the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

  20. Local News 8

    Vivek Ramaswamy launches $4 million ad campaign of controversial video featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    By Patrick Svitek, CNN (CNN) — The campaign of Ohio Republican governor nominee Vivek Ramaswamy is launching a $4 million ad campaign featuring a controversial, viral video of his Democratic opponent’s estranged mom telling voters to reject her.

  21. The New Republic

    Vivek Ramaswamy Defends Disgusting Ad With Opponent’s Abusive Mom (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    Vivek Ramaswamy won’t take credit for a vile campaign advertisement featuring his opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother—but he’s more than happy to defend it. The Ohio GOP gubernatorial nominee’s team released a statement Tuesday championing an ugly attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, who lost custody…

  22. FOX 8 Cleveland

    Online ad against Amy Acton, featuring her estranged mother, sparks controversy (opens FOX 8 Cleveland)

    Published

    FOX 8 Cleveland's feed description

    Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, pushed back forcefully Tuesday against an unattributed ad circulating online in which her long-estranged mother calls her “a liar” and insinuates she has mental health issues.

  23. Revolver News

  24. The Boston Globe

    Democrat in Ohio governor’s race denounces unattributed ad featuring her estranged mother (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    Amy Acton is in a tight race with Republican billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy. The online ad does not include a "paid for" tag indicating who created it.

  25. NBC 4 Columbus

    Ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother garners national attention, criticism (opens NBC 4 Columbus)

    Published

    NBC 4 Columbus's feed description

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A controversial advertisement featuring Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton's estranged mother is gaining national attention, with Acton's brother calling the ad "despicable.

Showing the first 25 of 180 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.