Ramaswamy's ad using Amy Acton's estranged mother draws scrutiny over online promotion and tour venues

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing criticism over an attack ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, while a Facebook ad boosting the video was run by a news site tied to a California conservative donor group. The Buckeye Bulletin, which calls itself an Ohio-based news platform, appeared this spring and has posted a steady stream of pro-Ramaswamy content. Meta advertising data show its Facebook and Instagram accounts are managed by the Lincoln Media Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with the Orange County-based Lincoln Club, described as the oldest and largest conservative donor organization in California. IRS documents show the club and foundation are associated and share at least two key executives. None of the three responded to requests for comment. Ramaswamy began a bus tour over the weekend with other members of the Ohio Republican ticket. A top Ohio Republican told Zeteo that some businesses and event hosts have said they do not want him at stops, citing fear of bad publicity, angry calls, social-media attacks and customer complaints.

Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had. The Los Angeles Times leads with the Buckeye Bulletin, relying on Meta ad data and IRS documents to link it to the Lincoln Media Foundation. It cites political scientists who apply the term "pink-slime" to partisan sites posing as local news, notes an earlier outlet tied to the foundation, and stresses the lack of responses. Zeteo takes a different angle, focusing on fallout for the campaign tour and relying on one unnamed Ohio Republican. Its headline and wording condemn the ad in strong terms. Both pieces treat the ad as controversial, but they cover different consequences.