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Acton wins Cleveland Plain Dealer endorsement in Ohio governor’s race Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton won The Plain Dealer’s endorsement Sunday — even after the Cleveland newspaper decided earlier this year it would not be endorsing candidates in the state’s toss-up Senate or governor’s races. The Plain Dealer serves as the primary newspaper of Cleveland and a major outlet operating in Ohio. Last month, The Plain Dealer unveiled its endorsements for the 2026 midterm elections and notably left off picks for the state’s Senate and gubernatorial races following an announcement that the newspaper would focus on downballot races, particularly judicial elections. “Vivek Ramaswamy, seeking the highest office in this state, has produced a campaign advertisement that weaponizes the sexual abuse his opponent, Amy Acton, suffered as a child,” The Plain Dealer’s editorial board wrote Sunday. The newspaper is referring to the infamous campaign ad that leaked last week, which featured Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a “liar” and insinuating she suffers from mental health issues. The advertisement does not provide any context about the estrangement between Acton and her mother. Acton was sexually abused by her stepfather and was removed from Arthur’s care when she was 12 years old. Acton had disclosed during a 2019 interview the physical and sexual abuse, along with neglect, she experienced during her childhood. Arthur stayed with her husband after he was charged with sexually abusing Acton when she was a child, according to court documents. Acton said the last time she saw her mother was in court the day her stepfather was taken into custody. Arthur remained married to Acton’s stepfather until his death. Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate in Ohio’s gubernatorial race, confirmed his campaign was behind the ad. “We made our endorsement policy to serve our readers. We cannot let it become a reason to remain silent when we believe Ohio faces a choice this consequential,” the editorial board continued. “And our endorsement of Acton rests on more than Ramaswamy’s failure to meet a basic standard of decency.” “She has earned consideration on her own record, her preparation and her commitment to the people she seeks to serve,” the board added. “And Ramaswamy’s decision to release this vile advertisement reveals a failure of judgment that Ohio cannot afford in its governor.” President Trump has consistently defended Ramaswamy’s ad, writing in a lengthy Truth Social post, the Republican “should keep it up.” “That took a lot of courage to do but, essentially, what she was really doing was saving Ohio from making a truly horrible choice! The Press is trying to convince everyone that this Ad is bad, because it’s so good! Who wouldn’t use such an Ad? I would, it’s called, ‘hitting pay dirt,’” the president wrote Thursday. Other conservatives — including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) —have condemned the ad and called for it to be taken down. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
document fetched 2026-10-26 02:57 · canonical https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6170989-amy-cton-wins-cleveland-plain-dealer-endorsement-in-ohio-governors-race