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Attack ad featuring candidate's mother roils Ohio governor race
The Republican spot uses Amy Acton's estranged mother, who sided with her husband after his arrest on rape charges, and has drawn national attention to the Ohio campaign's tactics.
On air: Chip Darnell and Dale Bearman on The Midday ShowPublished
Photo: Serenity · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Dale Bearman on this story, from The Midday Show at 12:29 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “Attack Ad Featuring Candidate’s Mother Turns Ohio Governors Race Even Uglier”.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 12:29 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Chip Darnell and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: Ohio.
- BBN covered this story before: Escaped emu found wandering mountain bike trail in Ohio (October 20).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA Republican ad in the Ohio governor's race features Amy Acton's estranged mother calling her daughter a liar, and The New York Times says it has made the campaign even uglier.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe two haven't spoken since her mother backed her husband after his arrest on rape charges.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA family rift this deep belongs in private, and instead it's in a thirty-second spot.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBoth parties have long treated family as fair game in a campaign, and voters will decide whether this one worked.
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Photo: U.S. Department of State · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: LasVegasGuy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The original uploader was QuicksilverFX0 at English… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Frenchieinportland · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: U.S. Department of Defense · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
The story so far
- DeWine grants Ohio college athletes fifth year of eligibility · Yahoo Sports
- Ohio horse's tail confirmed longest in the world · UPI
- Dodgers swept by Brewers; NCAA sues Ohio governor · ESPN
- Drama at the 65th Valley City, Ohio Frog Jump · CBS News
- Ohio GOP Shifts Message From Jobs to Socialism to Lift Turnout · The New York Times
- Escaped emu found wandering mountain bike trail in Ohio · UPI
- Attack ad featuring candidate's mother roils Ohio governor race (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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