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Ohio Governor-elect Amy Acton said she has “no intention” to speak with Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy after her victory in the gubernatorial race on Tuesday, telling CBS News that an advertisement he ran featuring her estranged mother in the final weeks of the campaign was “despicable.”
Acton became the first Democrat to win an Ohio gubernatorial race since 2006 as a blue tsunami washed over the nation during this week's midterms, allowing the party to win in states that have drifted toward Republicans and backed President Donald Trump by double-digits in the 2024 election.
Ramaswamy faced bipartisan criticism over the advertisement, and ultimately it failed to sway voters in his favor. With 98 percent of the vote counted, Acton was on track to defeat Ramaswamy by nearly 8 points, in a state Trump carried by 11 points just two years earlier.
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In his concession speech, Ramaswamy said that he called Acton to concede but that the call went to voicemail, adding that he “left her a message.”
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During an interview on CBS Mornings, Acton said on Friday that she has not spoken with Ramaswamy.
“I think we can’t normalize behavior like this. It was so beyond the pale, so no, I have no intention of speaking to him,” she said. “I do believe that leaders’ words matter, and we need to hold folks accountable.”
The governor-elect described the ad as “terrible and despicable.”
“I think he did it because they were struggling in their campaign. There was polling that had come out. They were six to seven points behind,” Acton said.
She said she wanted to say the ad was unexpected but that there was “no low” Ramaswamy would not “sink to.”
Newsweek reached out to Acton and Ramaswamy’s teams for comment via email.
Vivek Ramaswamy Ran Controversial Ad Featuring Amy Acton's Mother
The Ramaswamy ad featured Acton’s estranged mother Donna Arthur speaking directly to the camera about her daughter, urging Ohio voters not to elect Acton.
"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."
Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, wrote in a statement released by the Acton campaign that their mother lost custody of her children after her husband, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing Acton. Stearns said the pair were together until his death.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, told reporters he believed the Ramaswamy campaign running the ad was "wrong," and that it should have been taken down. Political commentator Meghan McCain called the ad "dastardly" on social media.
Other Republicans like Trump and Vice President JD Vance, however, repeatedly defended the ad.
"It's a mother speaking badly against Amy Acton, and to me, it's very easy," Trump told reporters. "If it were my mother speaking badly about me, you'd be making it the number one story in the news."
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What Did Vivek Ramaswamy Say in Concession Speech?
Ramaswamy described the campaign as a "tough race" which was "bitter at times in both directions."
"I wish her well to lead this state to hopefully greater heights in the future," he said.
What Happened in Ohio Governor Election?
Acton's support stood at 52.3 percent compared to 44.4 percent for Ramaswamy.
Acton is not the only Democrat who won in Ohio. In the Senate race, former Senator Sherrod Brown also defeated Republican Senator Jon Husted.
Democrats also flipped three Republican-controlled Congressional seats. Democrat Brian Poindexter defeated Republican Representative Max Miller in Ohio’s 7th District. Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker defeated Republican Representative Mike Turner in Ohio’s 10th District, while Democrat Don Leonard defeated Republican Representative Mike Carey in Ohio’s 15th District.
Democrat Allison Russo won the secretary of state race, while Democrat John Kulewicz is leading Republican Keith Faber by less than a percentage point in the attorney general race, which remains uncalled by the Associated Press.
Who Is Amy Acton, Ohio’s Next Governor?
Acton led the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic and previously directed a childhood vaccination initiative in the state. She served in state government under DeWine, a Republican, resigning from the position in June 2020.
She ran to the center during the campaign, voicing support for a ballot measure that will add Ohio’s photo ID requirement to the state constitution, and saying she does “not support boys playing in girls sports” in remarks to The Toledo Blade, drawing criticism from some progressives.
She has never held elected office before.
Acton described her win as “just the beginning” in a post to X on Wednesday.
“Now, we get to work building an Ohio where every family has the chance to do more than just get by — they can get ahead. That starts with lowering costs, creating opportunity, and making sure every Ohioan has the chance to build a great life. A new day for Ohio starts now,” she wrote.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Gabe Whisnant and Anthony Murray.
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