U.S. Midterms: ‘Don’t Vote for My Daughter, She’s a Liar,’ Mother of Democratic Governor Candidate Says
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The mother of Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has publicly urged voters not to elect her daughter as governor, accusing her of lying about her past and questioning her fitness for public office.
Donna Arthur made the allegations in a video in which she campaigned against Acton, who is challenging Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio governor’s race.
“I love my daughter. But when I saw her lying about her opponent—it’s not easy for a mother to say this—but Amy has a serious problem,” Arthur said.
“She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life,” she added.
Arthur further claimed that her daughter needed help and could not be trusted to govern Ohio, urging voters to reject her candidacy.
“My daughter needs help. And she can’t help you if she needs help herself. People can change. But first they have to tell the truth. And my daughter still isn’t doing that,” she said.
“Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse,” Arthur added.
Acton’s Brother Accuses Ramaswamy of Exploiting Family Trauma
Reacting to the controversy, Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, described their mother as an “estranged and abusive mother” and accused Ramaswamy of exploiting their family’s painful history for political gain.
Stearns referred to allegations that Acton was sexually abused at the age of 12 by a man their mother married.
“It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point,” Stearns said.
He further alleged that after the man was arrested and the siblings were removed from their mother’s custody, Arthur remained married to him until his death.
“This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core—a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants,” Stearns added.
Long-Running Dispute Over Acton’s Childhood
The controversy revives a long-running dispute over Acton’s childhood and her account of her family circumstances.
Acton, a former director of the Ohio Department of Health, disclosed in a 2019 interview that she had been raped by her stepfather.
Arthur had also challenged her daughter’s account of homelessness in 2020, describing the claim as exaggerated. She said her husband was arrested following her daughter’s rape allegations.
In 1978, Acton’s stepfather was charged with rape and indicted, but he pleaded not guilty.
The latest allegations have brought Acton’s personal history into the spotlight as the gubernatorial contest against Ramaswamy intensifies.
