Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker has pledged $500,000 to support Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton amid controversy surrounding Acton’s Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy. The announcement came after Ramaswamy’s campaign released an advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother, who accused Acton of dishonesty.

According to MK Pritzker’s spokeswoman, Jordan Abudayyeh, the contribution includes the maximum legal amount of $16,615.67 directly to Acton’s campaign, with the remainder directed to the Ohio Democratic Party. The midterm election is scheduled for November 3. As of this report, the contributions had not yet been reflected in Ohio’s campaign finance disclosures.

Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed to the Associated Press that it produced the ad, which intends to highlight personal family disputes. The campaign also announced plans to spend $4 million to promote the advertisement. Acton and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody in 1978 following the indictment of their stepfather on sexual assault charges, a situation Acton has detailed publicly.

In a statement, MK Pritzker criticized Ramaswamy’s tactics, accusing him of exploiting Acton’s personal history for political gain. She characterized his campaign as embodying arrogance and cruelty and expressed her commitment to actively opposing such strategies.

MK Pritzker, who usually avoids the political spotlight, has been selectively engaged in political contributions. Federal and state records indicate she has donated nearly $14.8 million to federal campaigns over time, with substantial support previously given to Democratic figures such as Hillary Clinton, Rahm Emanuel, and Pat Quinn. Her family has a history of political involvement, including her mother’s role as a South Dakota state legislator and her father’s experience as a Democratic pollster and chief of staff to a governor.

Governor J.B. Pritzker, MK Pritzker’s husband and a prominent political donor, has not directly contributed to Acton’s campaign but has been active in Ohio politics through individual donations and his political action committee, Ready for the Fight. His efforts include significant funding toward protecting abortion rights in Ohio and opposing Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller. Other members of the Pritzker family, including Jennifer Pritzker and Susan Pritzker, have also contributed to Acton’s campaign.

Governor Pritzker publicly condemned the ad, describing it as a "vile and false attack" against Acton, who served as Ohio’s public health director. Meanwhile, reactions within the Republican Party have varied. Some GOP members criticized Ramaswamy’s use of the advertisement, while former Ohio Senator and Vice President JD Vance defended it during a campaign event, suggesting that Republicans should focus more on opposing Democratic policies than on the ad’s content.