1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Dear Governor DeWine, I am writing to urge you to publicly condemn the recent attack ad released by Vivek Ramaswamy featuring Amy Acton’s estranged, abusive mother. Regardless of political affiliation or electoral ambitions, there should be a line that candidates are unwilling to cross. Exploiting a person’s painful family history for political gain crosses that line. Political campaigns should focus on candidates’ records, qualifications, policies, and visions for Ohio’s future. They should not weaponize family trauma or drag deeply personal family conflicts into public view to score political points. Bringing an estranged and reportedly abusive parent into a political attack is not meaningful policy criticism. It is a calculated attempt to humiliate an opponent by exploiting personal pain. As Governor of Ohio, you have an opportunity to demonstrate that basic decency and respect still matter in our state’s political discourse. You have served as a leader of your party and as the highest elected official in Ohio. That leadership carries a responsibility to speak out when political tactics undermine the standards of dignity and civility that Ohioans deserve from those seeking public office. I recognize that you and Vivek Ramaswamy may share political affiliations and that you may have your own opinions about Amy Acton. However, condemning this tactic does not require you to endorse her candidacy, agree with her policies, or take sides in the election. It simply requires acknowledging that some things should be off-limits, even in a heated campaign. Ohioans deserve a campaign centered on substantive issues that affect their lives: affordable housing, healthcare, education, jobs, and the future of our communities. We should expect our candidates to debate those issues honestly rather than resort to personal attacks that exploit family trauma. I respectfully ask you to publicly condemn this advertisement and make clear that this kind of political exploitation has no place in Ohio. Sincerely, A concerned Ohioan