FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 8, 2026
CONTACT: [email protected]
FACT CHECK: Vivek Ramaswamy’s Lying Rampage Continues
COLUMBUS, OH— Vivek Ramaswamy’s out-of-state billionaire funded Super PAC has continued its desperate rampage of spreading lies about Dr. Amy Acton with yet another false ad.
The ad continues to spread lies about Dr. Acton’s medical knowledge, even though she has three decades of medical experience, has been a licensed physician since 1994, and her medical knowledge has been rated as “excellent.”
The ad attacks Dr. Acton for missing a CDC media training but omits key context; she was recovering from a fractured hip after being prescribed physical therapy rehab for her injury. In a clear sign that Ramaswamy and his allies are grasping at straws, the ad points to an Acton family joke about internet trends in a laughable attempt to portray Dr. Acton as anything other than qualified to be Governor of Ohio.
“Vivek Ramaswamy and his allies are grasping at straws as they continue to spread desperate lies about Dr. Acton. No matter how hard he tries, Ramaswamy cannot escape the fact that his campaign is struggling under the weight of an unlikeable, billionaire scam artist who calls Ohioans ‘whiners,’ ‘lazy,’ and ‘mediocre,’ says Medicaid and Medicare are a ‘mistake,’ and proposes tax scams that would raise costs on working families,” said Acton campaign manager Philip Stein.
CLAIM:
- “Amy Acton’s medical knowledge described as insufficient to the state medical board.”
FACT CHECK:
- Dr. Acton is a qualified, licensed physician and public health expert with three decades of medical experience. She has a proven track record of saving lives and keeping Ohioans safe.
- The record the attack ad is referencing was not a reflection of Dr. Acton’s medical ability or knowledge; it referred to a four-month, partial first-year medical internship. Her medical knowledge has been rated as “excellent.”
- Governor DeWine has applauded Dr. Acton’s “superb,” “wise” counsel and said she has “always put the health of Ohioans first.” [WOSU, 10TV]
CLAIM:
- “Police officers found her drinking while on prescription drugs. It shows.”
FACT CHECK:
- Dr. Acton was not intoxicated and has never had any kind of issue with alcohol or substances.
- Dr. Acton was on regularly prescribed medication for blood pressure and migraines.
- Her husband is on record stating she had only one drink. [NBC 4]
- Spreading lies about Dr. Acton’s family is a clear sign of desperation from Ramaswamy’s campaign.
CLAIM:
- “The CDC provides a training… I tripped over my dog gate… and missed the training…”
FACT CHECK:
- Dr. Acton missed a CDC communications training because she fractured her hip.
- She was prescribed physical therapy by a medical professional at a physical therapy rehab facility to recover from her fractured hip.
CLAIM:
- “I can’t even work the remote on our TV.”
FACT CHECK:
- Their attempt to use a family joke to paint Dr. Acton as anything other than qualified is laughable.
- The ad conveniently omits the full context of this clip in which Dr. Acton describes being too busy saving Ohioans during the pandemic to keep up with internet trends.
CLAIM:
- “Amy Acton shut schools and businesses during COVID.”
FACT CHECK:
- Gov. DeWine has repeatedly said any closure decisions were solely his: “The decisions that were made during COVID, they were my decisions, so no one should blame someone else if they don’t like it. The buck stops with me.” [NBC-4]
- Vivek Ramaswamy publicly supported mandatory COVID-19 testing, isolation, made $2 billion from the COVID vaccine, and served as an official COVID-19 response advisor to then-Lt. Gov Jon Husted. [NBC-4]
- Governor DeWine took full responsibility for temporarily closing businesses during COVID. [Statehouse News Bureau]
- Governor DeWine “ordered that all kindergarten through 12th grade schools close for a period of several weeks.” [Office of Governor DeWine]
CLAIM:
- “Amy Acton. Drinking. Drugs. Disaster. Disqualifying.”
FACT CHECK:
- Each of these claims is a blatant lie.
- Recent polls show the race is neck and neck — there is no evidence Ohioans don’t want Dr. Acton as governor.
- Ohioans know Dr. Acton is the most qualified candidate in this race to address the affordability crisis and build a brighter future for Ohio.
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