Ramaswamy kicks off Ohio GOP bus tour in Strongsville amid ad backlash

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (WOIO) - The Ohio Republican Party kicked off a statewide bus tour Friday morning in Strongsville with GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in attendance.

Ramaswamy took aim at his Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton during his remarks at a pancake breakfast at a local bar on Pearl Road.

“I’m running against a woman who, God forbid, would be the first socialist governor we have ever seen in our history,” Ramaswamy said. “Somebody who has a chronic history of both lying and failing this state, who quit on Ohio when times get tough. We will not reward that failure with a promotion.”

Ramaswamy’s remarks come amid fallout over a 60-second ad in which Acton’s estranged birth mother calls her “a liar.”

The ad first circulated on social media with unclear funding. The Ramaswamy campaign has since taken credit and is spending $4 million to run it online and on TV.

Acton’s campaign and her brother Philip Stearns condemned the ad, noting their mother lost custody after Acton’s stepfather was charged with raping Acton at age 12.

Acton has spoken openly about childhood homelessness and abuse.

The ad has split Republicans, with current Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calling it “deeply, deeply troubling” Thursday and urging the Ramaswamy to take it down.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have defended it.

The tour will head to Powell this afternoon and wrap up Friday night at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.