Ramaswamy campaign defends release of attack ad targeting Acton's mother

The Ramaswamy presidential campaign released an attack advertisement that prominently featured the mother of Amy Acton, the former director of the Ohio Department of Health, sparking backlash from critics who questioned the decision to involve family members in political messaging.

Campaign officials defended the decision by arguing the advertisement was factually grounded and relevant to broader policy critiques. The ad centered on Acton's role during the COVID-19 pandemic and her public health decisions, which became a focal point in Ramaswamy's policy platform opposing lockdown measures and other pandemic restrictions.

The inclusion of Acton's mother in the advertisement drew particular scrutiny, with observers noting the departure from typical campaign norms that generally exclude family members from attack messaging. Political analysts noted the move reflected intensifying rhetoric in the 2024 campaign season.

Acton, who resigned from her position in 2020 amid controversy over pandemic-related policies, has not issued a formal response to the advertisement. The incident underscores continuing debates over acceptable boundaries in political advertising and the targeting of public figures' families in campaign messaging.

Photo: Vivek Ramaswamy speaking at AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, December 2025. Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).