Ohio Venues Cancel Ramaswamy Events Over Ad Backlash

Ohio venues are canceling or reconsidering campaign events with Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy amid backlash over an ad his campaign produced featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, accusing Acton of lying about her childhood. Acton and her brother say she was abused by her stepfather, who was charged with raping her when she was 12; reporting cited court records that support key parts of Acton’s account. Old Dog Ale House & Brewery canceled a campaign stop, Elliot’s Wood Fired Kitchen declined to host one, and other tour locations have been left unspecified, while venues that hosted events faced negative online reviews. The ad has drawn criticism from Republicans as well as Democrats: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called it deeply troubling and urged Ramaswamy to remove it, while President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended the campaign.