The Ohio gubernatorial race has intensified following the release of an online video featuring the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton. In the video, the mother describes Acton as a "liar" and encourages voters to oppose her candidacy.

In response, Philip Stearns, Acton’s brother, released a campaign advertisement directly blaming Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy for the video's circulation. Stearns characterized Ramaswamy as "not fit to lead" due to his alleged involvement in promoting the footage. Amy Acton has also publicly addressed the situation, framing the incident as a continuation of a "lifelong pattern" of personal attacks she attributes to the Ramaswamy campaign. Acton, who has previously spoken about experiencing childhood abuse, criticized the decision to involve her estranged family members in the political contest.

While Acton and her brother assert that the Ramaswamy campaign is responsible for the video, the reports do not explicitly state whether the Ramaswamy campaign has confirmed or denied direct coordination with the mother. The situation highlights a growing rift in the campaign, with both sides accusing the other of utilizing unethical tactics to influence voters.