In what is being called a bombshell in the Ohio race for governor, the mother of Democrat candidate Amy Acton is urging citizens not to vote for her own daughter, whom she says has “a serious problem” and has “lied her entire life.”
Acton is running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate and adviser to President Donald Trump.
In a video posted on X by investigative journalist Walter Curt, Acton’s mother says: “My name is Donna Arthur and I’m Amy Acton’s mother. I worked at Children and Family Service Association, building one of the first two sexual abuse programs in America.
“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.
“She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life.
“My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself. People can change, but first they have to tell the truth, and my daughter still isn’t doing that.
“Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.”
Curt noted of the video, “That’s one hell of an October surprise.”
WATCH:
BOMBSHELL:
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s own mother urges voters not to vote for her daughter.
“My name is Donna Arthur and I’m Amy Acton’s mother. I worked at Children and Family Service Association, building one of the first two sexual abuse programs in America.
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.
She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life.
My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself. People can change, but first they have to tell the truth, and my daughter still isn’t doing that.
Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.”
That’s one hell of an October surprise.
— Walter Curt (@wcdispatch) October 20, 2026
“WOW,” said political analyst Mehek Cooke. “Most political candidates spend October trying to win over undecided voters. Now Amy Acton’s mother is calling her a liar and urging Ohioans not to vote for her. Forget the undecided voters. This campaign has an undecided parent.”
In response on Tuesday morning, Acton posted a statement from her own brother, Philip Stearns, who blasted the video, saying: “It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stopped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point.”
“After he was arrested and Amy and I were removed from their custody, our birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died. This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vive Ramaswamy is at his core – a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants.”
https://t.co/QOadUNGv2u
— Dr. Amy Acton (@amyactonoh) October 20, 2026
Last month, Acton produced her own commercial, calling her Republican opponent’s political ads to garbage.
“Vivek Ramaswamy is spending millions on attack ads, even using A.I. to lie about my family. Fact-checkers call the ads false, vile and repulsive,” she said.
“I’d rather focus on making your lives better by lowering costs and giving working families a tax cut.”
WATCH:
While Vivek Ramaswamy is busy spewing garbage and lies, I’m focused on lowering costs and making life better for Ohioans. Watch our new ad now. https://t.co/9oZj7aajdy
— Dr. Amy Acton (@amyactonoh) September 10, 2026
Ramaswamy, meanwhile, is reacting to the weekend violence in France, saying it could come to America if Democrats are elected.
“We can’t let this spread to America & I’ll make sure it doesn’t ever happen in Ohio,” he said. End sanctuary cities. Prosecute Medicaid & visa fraud. Work with ICE rather than against them.”
We can’t let this spread to America & I’ll make sure it doesn’t ever happen in Ohio. End sanctuary cities. Prosecute Medicaid & visa fraud. Work with ICE rather than against them.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) October 19, 2026
A poll by Bowling Green State University shows Acton leading Ramaswamy by 6 points, 50% to 44%, while a co/efficient poll of 925 likely Ohio voters suggests Ramaswamy has a two-point lead over Acton at 45% to 43%.
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