Amy Acton let Vivek Ramaswamy’s concession call go to voicemail after disgusting attack ad featuring her ex-mother

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Democrat Amy Acton refused to answer a phone call from Republican Vivek Ramaswamy when he asked her to concede the race for Ohio governor, following a controversial campaign marked by an aggressive political ad involving her estranged mother.

Ramaswamy confirmed the unanswered call during his speech to his supporters on election night, as reported News week.

“We left him a message,” Ramaswamy said. “It’s a tough night for us here in Ohio.”

The victory made the 60-year-old doctor the first woman elected governor of Ohio, ending 16 years of Republican leadership in the state. Acton is the first Democrat to win the governorship since Ted Strickland was elected in 2006, ending a rightward shift in a state that voted for Donald Trump in three straight presidential elections.

The contest intensified last month when Ramaswamy released a $4 million ad campaign featuring Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, who called her daughter a liar about her upbringing. Arthur lost custody of Acton following the indictment of Acton’s stepfather for allegedly raping Acton when she was 12 years old.

The ad received widespread bipartisan criticism. Outgoing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine called the ad “deeply, deeply disturbing” and called for it to be removed, while maintaining his support for Ramaswamy. Trump and Vice President JD Vance initially supported the campaign effort before it was halted.

Acton directly addressed the controversial ad during an Oct. 24 campaign rally in Cleveland with former President Barack Obama.

“My opponent chose to intentionally exploit my childhood to save his struggling campaign, but it won’t work,” Acton told the crowd.

Speaking at another campaign event in northwest Ohio after the ad aired, Acton described the situation as the “big elephant in the room.”

“The reason I talk about my childhood when I do it is just one: I started to realize that it could give other people hope that you can, you know, get out of your situation,” she said.

During her victory speech Tuesday, Acton reflected on her personal history before taking on the role of governor, where she previously served as health director under DeWine during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I know what it’s like when people look the other way when you’re in trouble,” Acton said. “As a child, I was a victim of abuse and neglect. And I could never have imagined going from homeless to a doctor. Let alone being here, the next governor of Ohio.”

Hearing the song “You’ve Got the Love” by Florence and the Machine, Acton framed the election results as a turning point for state politics.

“Ohio chose unity and decency over division and hatred; the healing begins today,” she told her supporters.

“I am incredibly honored to have earned the trust of Ohioans to serve as Ohio’s next governor,” she said. “This has meant a lot to me and my family. This entire campaign has been a movement by and for the people; this victory is for all Ohioans who yearn for public servants again, who solve problems instead of creating them, and who don’t mistake kindness for weakness.”

Acton pledged to govern across party lines despite the hostility of the campaign, which featured no face-to-face debates between the candidates.

“We must never abandon each other,” Acton said. “I want to make something very clear to the people of Ohio. I will be governor for all the people of Ohio. I’m in this fight for all of us.”

She added: “To those who voted for me, and to those who did not, I will work with everyone. »

In his concession speech, Ramaswamy offered his support to the new administration.

“I wish him well in leading this state to hopefully greater heights in the future,” Ramaswamy said, calling it a “tough race” that was “at times bitter both ways.”

“I have hope and confidence that she will do what is necessary to bring Ohio together,” Ramaswamy said. “We support the success of this state; we support your success, and that means all of us in this room should support the success of his administration, and we hope that Ohio achieves great things, regardless of what happened tonight in this election.”

According to the figures of Associated Press with 95 percent of the votes counted, Acton received 51.9 percent of the vote to Ramaswamy’s 44.8 percent.

Donald Kissick of the Libertarian Party received 3.3 percent.

Earlier figures of 81 percent showed Acton leading with 50.7 percent, compared to Ramaswamy’s 46 percent when the former Republican presidential candidate conceded.

That result coincided with broader Democratic gains in the midterm elections, in which the party gained control of both houses of Congress after flipping U.S. Senate seats in Texas, Kansas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Acton succeeds DeWine as leader of a state currently navigating policy decisions regarding the economy and expansion of AI data centers. Former Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister served as Ohio’s governor for 11 days in 1999 after George Voinovich transitioned to the Senate, making Acton the first woman elected to a full term.

The Independent has contacted both campaigns for comment.