Pritzker said the ad was “everything that is wrong in our politics today” and pledged to support Acton in the campaign’s final stretch. Her husband, Gov. JB Pritzker, shared her statement on social media and said he was proud of her for taking a stand.

The ad features Donna Arthur, Acton’s birth mother, who called her daughter “a liar” and suggested Acton was experiencing mental health issues. Acton has said she has not seen her mother since she was 12 and has publicly discussed childhood abuse and periods of homelessness.

The ad’s family history has drawn particular scrutiny. Police and court records show that Acton’s father, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and charged in 1978 with raping her when she was 12, according to reporting by the Associated Press and NBC News. He later died after failing to appear in court and becoming a fugitive.

Ramaswamy’s campaign has defended the ad and reportedly spent $4 million to air it. The spot has faced criticism from both parties. DeWine, a Republican who endorsed Ramaswamy, called it “deeply, deeply troubling.” Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican running for a full term in the Senate seat once held by Vice President JD Vance, said he would not have run it.

Vance, by contrast, urged fellow Republicans to “stop whining” about the ad and focus on winning the race, which he said was 13 days away.

In her statement, Pritzker accused Ramaswamy of exploiting a qualified woman’s personal pain for political gain. “I refuse to sit quietly while men like Vivek Ramaswamy exploit a highly qualified woman’s pain for political gain,” she said.