Nan Whaley Acton, a leading candidate in the tight Ohio gubernatorial race, has spoken candidly about her troubled childhood after a recent campaign ad aired by her opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, spotlighted personal family issues. The advertisement, which features footage of Acton’s mother, has drawn national attention and sparked a heated debate in the closing days of the election.

Acton, a physician and former Ohio health director, described the resurfaced family trauma as a difficult chapter she is still working to understand. “I’m 60 years old. I’m learning, and I’m sure at some point I’ll be learning from everything I’m experiencing now,” she said in a recent interview. She credits her early hardships, including living in a tent during her youth, with shaping her resilience and problem-solving skills—a foundation that propelled her through medical school and public health leadership roles.

Acton first gained statewide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic when, serving as health director under Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, she helped implement some of the nation’s earliest and strictest public health measures. Her steady demeanor earned her widespread praise, but also sparked fierce opposition as shutdowns of schools and businesses drew criticism. After 16 months, Acton stepped down, citing concerns about unsafe reopening plans.

The campaign’s recent escalation has included the use of AI-generated videos by Ramaswamy and his allies casting doubt on Acton’s mental stability and medical credentials, claims she strongly denies. Acton has refused to debate Ramaswamy, who cites that refusal as justification for the controversial ad. She has also criticized Ramaswamy for his wealth and for promoting a drug treatment for Alzheimer’s that independent fact-checkers have rated mostly false.

The ad’s portrayal of Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur—who Acton has not seen since childhood and who reportedly is currently living in her car—has drawn criticism from several political figures, including DeWine, who called it “deeply, deeply troubling.” President Donald Trump and others have defended the ad as a legitimate political tactic.

Acton’s connection to her roots in Youngstown’s Mahoning Valley remains a central theme of her campaign. She often describes herself as a “scrappy kid from Youngstown,” reflecting on her family’s struggles amid the region’s economic decline following the collapse of its steel industry. Despite early adversity, Acton distinguished herself academically and socially in high school, winning scholarships and working multiple jobs to fund her education.

Friends and colleagues say Acton’s early trauma was not evident to those around her, noting her ability to compartmentalize and maintain a positive outlook. As an adult, she sought therapy and specialized training in psychiatry and public health, focusing much of her career on addiction and preventive medicine.

In the current race, Acton has emphasized themes of kindness, justice, and human dignity. At a recent campaign event at Liberty High School, she framed the election as more than a contest over economic or foreign policy issues, stating, “Kindness is a fierce commitment to justice and seeing the humanity and the God in one another … That and human decency are absolutely on the ballot.”

With less than a week before election day, polls show the contest between Acton and Ramaswamy remains extremely close, underscoring the deep divisions and personal intensity defining the 2026 Ohio governor’s race.