Vice President JD Vance Defends Ramaswamy Amid Controversial Ad
Vice President JD Vance has made a strong statement against Republicans who have criticized fellow party member Vivek Ramaswamy regarding a contentious advertisement aimed at his Democratic opponent in the Ohio governor’s race.
The ad prominently features the mother of Democrat Amy Acton, who denounces her daughter as a liar and urges Ohio voters to reject her candidacy. Ramaswamy later confirmed that his campaign was responsible for the ad.
Vance remarked, “Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is simple: if you genuinely believe in what you advocate for, stop complaining about this advertisement and focus on winning the race.”
Acton’s campaign labeled the advertisement as “repulsive,” describing Acton’s mother as “abusive” and branding Ramaswamy as “a scam artist.” Acton’s narrative, which highlights her rise from a reportedly troubled childhood, has become a central theme in her campaign.
Despite some Republicans voicing disapproval of Ramaswamy’s actions, Vance chose to redirect his focus toward those within the Republican Party who were criticizing the ad.
“To be honest, whether the ad was suitable is not my primary focus. What truly matters is who will govern the next generation of America, who will secure the Senate seat in Ohio, and who will emerge victorious in the governor’s race,” Vance stated during an event at the Cincinnati FBI field office in Sycamore Township on Wednesday.
He continued, “Honestly, it’s a bit disheartening to see members of my party reacting so vocally. Have your opinions on the ad—it’s all fair game. If you think it was overly harsh or just not harsh enough, voice that. But I must admit, I feel a little disgusted witnessing Republicans across the nation spending more time complaining about this advert than confronting the serious matters posed by congressional Democrats and their plans for America.”
Vance then pointed out that Democrats have, in the past, subjected Republicans to similarly aggressive tactics, including advertisements that feature family members without hesitation.
“There have been ads that explicitly label Vivek Ramaswamy as a murderer,” Vance noted.
“And how often have we encountered advertisements that exploit his family relations, even estranged ones, to target the President of the United States?”
Vance concluded, emphasizing that “Politics is tough, and to my fellow elected Republicans, if you truly stand by your beliefs, quit the complaints about the advertisement and focus on securing a win in just 13 days.”
Following his remarks, Vance accompanied Ramaswamy in campaigning around Cincinnati.
Current polling averages indicate that Acton holds an advantage over Ramaswamy, according to The Blaze Poll Watch:
Ohio governor polls 2026: Acton vs. Ramaswamy
