Donna Stearns Arthur did not hold back in a new advertisement targeting her daughter, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. The video, which surfaced on X via conservative fundraising handles and was later shared by Donald Trump Jr., features Arthur stating plainly: "Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar."
The ad specifically attacks a biographical detail, with Arthur claiming Acton falsely states she grew up living in a tent. "None of that is true," Arthur said in the clip. "My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself."
Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, immediately blamed Vivek Ramaswamy for orchestrating the stunt. He accused the former FDA commissioner of stooping to "despicable lows" by turning the sexual abuse Acton endured at age twelve into a political talking point. Stearns noted that their mother remained married to the abuser until his death, making the political exploitation particularly grotesque.
Ramaswamy’s campaign spokesperson, Connie Luck, dismissed the family drama and focused on credibility. "We don't know what happened between Amy and her mother... but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth," Luck told POLITICO.
The controversy resurfaces a 2019 interview where Acton detailed her history of neglect and homelessness, noting she last saw her mother at a courthouse arrest. With votes counting, the dispute shifts focus from policy to personal integrity, leaving Ohio voters to decide which candidate’s history they can trust.