St. Xavier Alums Demand Ramaswamy Remove Ad

More than 3,100 graduates of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati have signed a petition demanding that Vivek Ramaswamy remove a campaign advertisement. The school is an all-male private Jesuit institution where Ramaswamy graduated in 2003. The group issued the call last week after the ad began airing as part of a $4 million broadcast and digital push.

The advertisement features Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Amy Acton, Ramaswamy's Democratic opponent for governor. Arthur lost custody of Acton and her brother in 1978. She left Ohio with her husband after he was charged with raping Acton when the girl was twelve. In the spot, Arthur claims her daughter lies about her past and urges voters to reject Acton. The ad was first shared on social media early last week.

Ramaswamy’s campaign has defended the creative choice. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also voiced support for the ad. However, the response from the public has been largely critical, with many describing the use of family trauma as a new low in state politics. The petition organizers argue the spot relies on personal cruelty rather than policy debates.

Brian Cahill, a 1983 graduate of St. Xavier, helped organize the online petition. He stated that the group is not partisan but focused on human decency. Cahill noted that the school itself has not taken a formal stand on the advertisement. He said the alumni felt the need to act because they believed Ramaswamy was damaging the reputation associated with their school name. The group cited the school motto of being men for others as the standard they felt was violated.

The petition asks Ramaswamy to issue a public apology. It specifically requests that he acknowledge he weaponized family trauma and domestic abuse in an electoral campaign. The signatories also ask him to commit to debating policy records instead of resorting to personal attacks. Cahill said the idea for the petition grew out of text message threads where former classmates discussed the controversy.

A message seeking comment from the Ramaswamy campaign was not returned by press time. The ad continues to air across Ohio as the race heats up.

The petition text calls the campaign conduct a source of deep moral disappointment. It condemns the targeting of Dr. Amy Acton in the recent political advertisement.