The campaign for Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton on Tuesday condemned her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, alleging his campaign used her estranged mother in a social media video to attack her.

A video circulating online late Monday, which appeared to be a campaign advertisement, featured Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, stating that her daughter "has lied about her past." ABC News has not independently verified the content or authenticity of the video, which has been shared widely, including by Donald Trump Jr.

Ramaswamy confirmed Tuesday that the ad originated from his campaign, stating he viewed it as legitimate and that Acton's mother was not compensated. He argued that the race should focus on substantive issues and that Acton has been "hiding from those issues" and refusing to debate him.

In the video, Arthur also described her daughter as needing help, saying, "My daughter needs help, and she can't help you if she needs help herself." Arthur could not be immediately reached for comment.

Acton's brother, Philip Stearns, criticized Ramaswamy for what he called a "disgusting attack." Stearns stated that Ramaswamy stooped to a "despicable low" by using Acton's past sexual abuse, which occurred when she was 12, as a political talking point. He added that their birth mother remained married to the abuser until his death, after he was arrested and Acton and Stearns were removed from their custody.

This is not the first time Arthur has publicly made accusations against her daughter. In 2020, during an interview with an anti-abortion access group, Arthur accused Acton's father of influencing their daughter to lie. This statement appears to contradict Stearns' account of their mother's actions.

When asked Tuesday about the ad's creation and whether it had campaign knowledge or consent, Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy, issued a lengthy statement. While not denying the ad's origin or denouncing it, Luck stated, "We don't know what happened between Amy and her mother, who first spoke out about Amy in 2020, but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of before deciding who to entrust as governor."

The controversy comes as the Ohio gubernatorial race is considered a toss-up, with both campaigns seeking to gain an edge ahead of the election.