JD Vance tells Republicans to ‘stop whining’ over Ramaswamy’s Ohio campaign ad

Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans in Cincinnati on Wednesday, October 21, to ‘stop whining’ about criticism of Ohio governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s ad featuring Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother, NBC News reported. His remarks came 13 days before the election, as the ad drew objections from Republicans and Democrats.

‘Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days,’ Vance told reporters, according to NBC News. The vice president, who was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, later addressed the dispute at a rally in the state.

Why the Ramaswamy ad drew criticism

Acton has previously recounted being sexually abused as a child by her mother’s husband. NBC News reported that her brother, Philip Stearns, condemned Ramaswamy’s ad and said the siblings were removed from their mother and stepfather’s custody after the stepfather was arrested. Stearns said their birth mother stayed married to the man until his death. NBC News said attempts to reach Arthur by phone and email Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Vance’s response in the final days of the race

At the Wednesday rally, Vance said Democrats and the media were focused on Ramaswamy’s commercial. He urged Republicans to ‘focus on the substance and focus on the facts’ of television ads, then criticized Acton, NBC News reported. His comments extended the dispute over the ad into the closing stretch of a statewide campaign.

Ramaswamy’s team was planning a $4 million statewide advertising push around the ad, according to NBC News. The outlet also reported that several people on his campaign had previously worked on Vance’s political team. The dispute follows the family’s criticism of Ramaswamy’s use of Acton’s estranged mother in the race, covered in an earlier NewsJaws report.