President Donald Trump-backed Indian-American Republican Vivek Ramaswamy rose to prominence during the 2024 US presidential race, positioning himself as a bold, unconventional candidate. He challenged Trump for the Republican nomination before suspending his campaign in January 2024 and endorsing him.Ramaswamy remains a prominent figure in business and politics and is now the Republican candidate for Ohio governor. He will face Democratic nominee Amy Acton in the November 3 2026, general election.The 40-year-old biotech entrepreneur has recently faced bipartisan criticism over a campaign advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who calls her daughter a liar. Ramaswamy has defended the advertisement, saying it is about alleged dishonesty rather than Acton’s childhood abuse.
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?
Born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy is the son of Indian immigrants from Kerala who moved to the US in the 1970s. His mother was a geriatric psychiatrist, while his father worked as an engineer and patent lawyer at General Electric. Ramaswamy grew up with his younger brother, Shankar, and graduated as the valedictorian of his Jesuit high school. He was also a nationally ranked junior tennis player and an accomplished pianist.Ramaswamy graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 2007 with a degree in biology. He later worked in life sciences investing before earning a law degree from Yale Law School in 2013. He met his future wife, Apoorva Tewari, a medical student who later became a throat surgeon, while studying at Yale.In 2014, at the age of 29, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines. His business ventures helped him build substantial wealth and establish himself in the biotechnology industry.He later gained national attention for his criticism of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, arguing that companies should focus on business performance rather than social and political causes. His views, frequent media appearances and book Woke, Inc. helped raise his profile in conservative political circles.
Ramaswamy’s presidential bid and ties with Trump
Ramaswamy announced his candidacy for Ohio governor in February 2025 and received Trump’s endorsement. His campaign has focused on economic opportunity, tax cuts and education reform.Among his proposals are eliminating Ohio’s state income tax, reducing property taxes and raising academic standards in public schools. He has also pledged to engage with voters across all 88 counties in the state.Ramaswamy won the Republican primary in May 2026 and will face Acton, a physician and former director of the Ohio Department of Health, in the general election.
Why is Ramaswamy facing backlash over his campaign ad?
The controversy centres on an advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who accuses her daughter of lying and questions her account of her childhood.Acton has spoken publicly about experiencing homelessness and abuse as a child. Her stepfather was indicted on charges of raping her when she was 12, after her biological father reported the allegations. Acton and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody. Her stepfather pleaded not guilty and later died.Ramaswamy defended the advertisement at a campaign stop in northeast Ohio, saying it had nothing to do with childhood abuse.“The irony is they’re lying about an ad that is about lying,” he said, the Associated Press reported. “They’re changing the subject because they don’t want to answer for their own failures.”Acton condemned the advertisement, telling Spectrum News, “I won’t normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is just something I’m complaining about.”The advertisement has drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called for it to be taken down, saying, “It’s wrong to run this ad.”Trump, however, backed the campaign’s approach, describing the advertisement as “hitting pay dirt”. Vice-President JD Vance also defended Ramaswamy, criticising Republicans who objected to the ad.The controversy has brought renewed national attention to the Ohio governor’s race ahead of the November 3 election.
