Ohio's Acton has 'no intention' of speaking with GOP foe Vivek Ramaswamy - USA Today

Ohio Gov.-elect Amy Acton has "no intention of speaking" to her Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy after his campaign's controversial ad featuring her estranged mother, Acton said in a Nov. 6 interview with CBS Mornings.

After a heated campaign to lead the Buckeye State, Ramaswamy conceded to Acton on Nov. 3. He urged his supporters to root for Acton and her administration, acknowledging that the campaign had become "bitter at times in both directions." He also said he'd called Acton and left a message congratulating her on her win.

But Acton doesn't have any plans to return that call. In an interview with CBS Mornings' Gayle King, the governor-elect called the ad featuring her mother "terrible and despicable." When asked if she had spoken to Ramaswamy since the election or at all, Acton responded with a firm no.

"I think we can't normalize behavior like this," she said. "It was so beyond the pale, so no, I have no intention of speaking to him. I do believe that leaders' words matter, and we need to hold folks accountable."

Ramaswamy's campaign aired an ad, which leaked Oct. 19, featuring Acton's estranged mother Donna Arthur accusing her daughter of lying about her upbringing. Acton hasn't spoken to her mother since 1978, when her stepfather Cledith Arthur was accused of sexually abusing her as a child.

Donna Arthur lost custody of her children after Acton's stepfather was charged with rape for sexually abusing Acton between the ages of 10 and 12.

"It was sad," Acton told CBS Mornings. "I would like to say I didn't expect this, but there was no low my opponent wouldn't sink to. These ads have been full of lies and hate and vitriol the entire campaign."

Republicans and Democrats alike condemned the ad as a new low in political campaigning, with current Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calling on Ramaswamy's campaign to take it down.

By defeating Ramaswamy, Acton has become the first woman elected Ohio governor and the first Democrat to win the race in 20 years.

Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@dispatch.com or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter.