Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is facing a deeply personal controversy after a video surfaced featuring her estranged mother, Donna Arthur, accusing her of repeated dishonesty and urging voters not to elect her governor. The recording began circulating Monday, October 19, just two weeks before Acton faces Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio’s gubernatorial election, scheduled for November 3. This extraordinary family dispute has quickly attracted attention, particularly across social media platforms.
"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. She is a liar." Donna Arthur, Amy Acton's Mother
In the circulating video, the woman identifies herself as Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother. She begins by describing her previous work, which included developing programs for victims of sexual abuse. Arthur then directly addresses her daughter’s political campaign, stating, "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. She is a liar." Arthur specifically challenged Acton’s accounts of experiencing homelessness during her childhood, including the candidate’s previous statements about living in a tent. "She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true," Arthur claimed. The video concludes with Arthur explicitly urging Ohio voters to reject her daughter in the upcoming election.
The video’s production history, including who produced or paid for it, has not been independently established. Despite this, its content rapidly spread, gaining traction among prominent Republican commentators online.
Acton’s campaign and her brother, Philip Stearns, have issued a forceful response to the accusations. Acton has previously spoken publicly about a traumatic childhood that involved homelessness, neglect, and sexual abuse while living in her mother’s household. Stearns directly challenged Arthur’s claims, explaining that both he and Acton were removed from their mother’s custody when they were children. He further pointed to allegations against their stepfather, who was arrested in connection with the sexual abuse of Acton when she was 12. Historical police and court records corroborate that her stepfather faced criminal proceedings involving the alleged abuse. Stearns criticized the use of their family’s history in the gubernatorial campaign, accusing Ramaswamy of exploiting painful childhood experiences for political purposes.
Acton herself responded publicly, emphasizing her estrangement from Arthur and detailing the circumstances that led to her removal from her mother’s home. The Democratic candidate firmly rejected any suggestions that she fabricated her childhood experiences.
Meanwhile, Ramaswamy’s campaign continued to question Acton’s credibility. Campaign spokesperson Connie Luck criticized Acton’s political record and public statements. However, Luck did not confirm whether Ramaswamy’s campaign had produced or authorized the video featuring Acton's mother.
This dispute introduces another contentious issue into what was already a competitive governor’s race. Amy Acton previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Health, gaining significant public recognition during the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is now seeking to succeed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is leaving office due to term limits. Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, is campaigning for the same position. The election has already featured sharp disagreements over the candidates’ records and policy priorities. Arthur’s appearance in the circulating video has, however, shifted attention toward Acton’s personal history and a longstanding family estrangement. While Arthur has publicly accused her daughter of dishonesty, those accusations do not independently establish that Acton’s accounts of childhood abuse are false. For now, the recording has generated controversy over political advertising, family allegations, and the use of personal trauma during an election campaign, just days before Ohio voters head to the polls.
