Ohio governor race shaken by viral ad featuring Acton's estranged mother

A viral video featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, has shaken the Ohio governor's race. In the clip, Arthur urges voters not to support her daughter and calls her a liar.

The ad references Acton's childhood, stating she was sexually abused by her mother's husband between the ages of 10 and 12. Acton says she was removed from her mother's custody at age 12 due to severe abuse and neglect.

“It is not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped 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.”

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, condemned the video and linked it to Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy. He described the move as a despicable attempt to turn sexual abuse into a political talking point.

Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed to Axios that it produced the ad and spent $4 million to promote it. The campaign said Ohioans deserve to hear what Arthur says about Acton.

A Marist Poll released Tuesday shows Acton leading likely voters with 50 percent, while Ramaswamy trails at 43 percent.