1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am asking you to do more than publicly urge Vivek Ramaswamy to remove his political advertisement targeting Amy Acton. I ask you to withdraw your endorsement of his candidacy for governor of Ohio. There is a profound difference between criticizing an opponent’s record and exploiting a family’s painful history for political gain. The advertisement features Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar, while ignoring the circumstances surrounding that estrangement. Acton has spoken about the horrific abuse she suffered as a child, including repeated sexual assaults by her stepfather and the loss of her mother’s custody when she was 12. Childhood sexual abuse is not a political punchline. A child’s trauma is not a campaign prop, and a painful family history should never be weaponized for votes. I recognize that you have called on Ramaswamy to pull the advertisement. That was an important step. But asking him to remove it while continuing to endorse him sends a contradictory message. It suggests that you recognize the tactic is wrong but are unwilling to hold the candidate accountable. An endorsement is a statement of confidence in a candidate’s judgment, character, and approach to public service. When a candidate’s conduct raises serious questions about those qualities, an endorser has a responsibility to reconsider that support. You have served Ohio for decades. You understand that public service requires more than winning elections. It requires judgment, restraint, and respect for the people affected by those seeking power. What message does your continued endorsement send to survivors of childhood sexual abuse? What does it say to parents who fear their children’s suffering could someday be used against them? And what does it say to Ohioans who expect their leaders to recognize that some things should remain beyond political warfare? You do not have to agree with Amy Acton politically to recognize that exploiting childhood sexual abuse in a campaign is unacceptable. You do not have to support her candidacy to insist that political opponents deserve basic human dignity. This is not about whether Ramaswamy has the right to run for governor or criticize his opponents. It is about whether you are willing to attach your name and reputation to a campaign tactic you have already publicly condemned. Governor DeWine, your words and actions need to match. If you believe this advertisement crosses a line, withdraw your endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy and make clear that political ambition does not excuse cruelty. Ohio deserves leaders who understand that the suffering of an abused child should never become campaign ammunition.