A brutal campaign ad backed by Vivek Ramaswamy's team backfired badly, handing a bigger lead to his opponent instead of hurting her.

• Ramaswamy's campaign ran an ad featuring his rival Amy Acton's own estranged mother calling her a liar, meant to hurt Acton just weeks before the Ohio governor race.
• Betting markets show the plan failed: Acton's win odds jumped higher right after the ad ran, instead of dropping like a normal attack ad would.
• The backlash grew worse when it came out that Acton was abused as a child and that her mother sided with the abuser, making the attack look cruel rather than credible.
• Republican reactions were split — some, including JD Vance, downplayed the controversy and focused on winning the race, while others on Ramaswamy's own side called the ad a serious misstep.
• Ramaswamy is trailing badly in the polls overall, and this ad is seen as a desperate move that may have cost him support rather than winning any back.

Outlook: Expect Acton's lead to hold or grow heading into the election, with this ad likely cited as a cautionary example in future campaigns about attacking family trauma.