With just a week left before Ohio voters head to the polls, Democratic candidate Amy Acton is confronting a heated governor’s race that has drawn national attention. In an exclusive interview with WLWT, Acton addressed a controversial campaign advertisement released by Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy that features Acton’s estranged mother, who urges voters not to support her daughter.
Ad controversy and personal history
Acton denounced the ad immediately, explaining that her mother remained married to a man who sexually abused Acton when she was 12 years old. She added that she has not seen her mother since the late 1970s. “I know there’s no low that my opponent won’t go to. He knows his campaign is struggling,” Acton said. “To stoop this low to someone? It’s clear my mother is not well. We’ve learned more. I mean, I’m learning things, Mike, that I didn’t know. I was obviously a child when this happened. I’m 60 years old now.”
Campaign events and recent incident
Acton also responded to criticism after a recent incident in Youngstown where a man was arrested following a confrontation involving state troopers and two elderly individuals at one of her campaign events. Early reports suggested Acton was attacked, but video evidence contradicted that claim. “This is under investigation, the governor made very strong statements about it, involved our state highway patrol, people were injured,” Acton said, emphasizing that the matter is being handled by law‑enforcement.
Experience and vision for Ohio
Drawing on her background as a public‑health leader, Acton highlighted her qualifications for the governor’s office. “I was trained to run all of government back when Bob Taft was governor,” she said. “It is time we get good people on both sides of the aisle. People can count on the fact that I’ll wake up every single day trying to make life better for every, every one of us.” She also referenced a recent weekend spent campaigning in Cleveland alongside former President Barack Obama, noting the personal inspiration she draws from the former president.
Debate stance and campaign strategy
Acton declined an invitation to debate Ramaswamy, a decision that her opponents have framed as a lack of willingness to engage. She defended the choice, stating, “Debates are for civic dialogue where people are going to discuss policies, but my opponent had already shown a tendency back in the presidential campaign, and certainly all through this election, that he would say or do anything.” Acton positioned her campaign as focused on policy discussion rather than personal attacks.
Looking ahead to Election Day
As Ohio voters prepare to cast ballots, Acton urged citizens to consider her experience and commitment to public service. “We need leaders who understand the challenges Ohio families face and who will work tirelessly to improve our communities,” she said. The race remains tight, with both candidates seeking to mobilize their bases in the final days before the election.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
