Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign released an ad earlier this week featuring his opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother.
In the clip, she urges people in the state of Ohio not to vote for her daughter, saying she has "lied her entire life".
Acton’s past is well documented. She and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody as children, which Acton says occurred after her stepfather sexually assaulted her at the age of 12.
Acton’s brother is among those who have condemned the ad, saying turning alleged sexual assault into "a political talking point" was a "despicable low".
Ramaswamy confirmed on Tuesday that the ad came from his campaign, and he later pledged to spend $4m (£2.9m) to further air it.
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