A sexual-assault-themed attack ad backfired badly on Ohio GOP governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, handing Democrat Amy Acton a growing lead in the race.

• Ramaswamy's ad featured Acton's estranged mother accusing her of lying, but the mother had a long history of protecting Acton's stepfather, who was indicted for abusing Acton and his own biological daughter as children.
• Multiple Republicans close to the campaign warned Ramaswamy not to run the ad, saying it would make him look cruel and make Acton more sympathetic to swing voters, but he pushed ahead anyway.
• Sources say the mother appeared mentally unwell and gave an incoherent account of her past when the campaign filmed her, yet Ramaswamy used the footage regardless.
• Trump and JD Vance both defended the ad after it aired, with Trump calling it a political gift.
• Polling shows Acton's lead widening sharply since the ad started circulating, suggesting it's hurting Ramaswamy rather than helping him.

Outlook: Expect the controversy to keep growing and further erode Ramaswamy's standing as Election Day approaches.