Ramaswamy’s former teacher slams him over controversial ad: ‘I taught you better’

A former teacher of embattled Vivek Ramaswamy scolded the Republican over a controversial attack ad he ran about his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, in the Ohio governor’s race.

Retired teacher Michael Pogue turned up at one of Ramaswamy’s campaign events in Cincinnati on October 24 in protest, holding a banner that said, “Shame on you, Vivek! I taught you better.”

Pogue taught Ramaswamy when he was in eighth grade at Princeton Junior High School, according to theCincinnati Enquirer, and called on his former pupil to issue a “full retraction and sincere apology” to Acton.

The attack ad received bipartisan backlash after it featured Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who lost custody of her children after her late husband was indicted for raping Acton when she was a child. Arthur called her daughter a “liar” in the 30-second ad. He was never prosecuted on that charge before the couple fled the state.

“This latest attack on Dr. Acton hits home,” Pogue told the Enquirer. “I had too many students who were raped.”

The Enquirer reports that Pogue was the only person in opposition to the ad at the campaign event, with other attendees telling the outlet they were more concerned about immigration and jobs.

Not all of Ramaswamy’s former teachers agree with Pogue.

On the same day as Pogue’s protest, Ramaswamy posted on X that he had been reunited with his first-grade teacher at a campaign stop. “Saw my first-grade teacher Mrs. Hendel at our stop at Shooters Sports Grill in Hamilton today,” he said. We’re going to fight for our kids to get the best education they can, starting at a young age.”

Hendel gave Ramaswamy a certificate last year that touted him as the “future governor of Ohio,” which he shared on social media. “I always knew you would become the super successful person you are today,” Hendel wrote. “I will always be in your court.”

The Independent has contacted Ramaswamy’s campaign for comment.

Ramaswamy’s attack ad and his refusal to back down have resulted in the loss of big endorsements and venue cancellations.

The MAGA loyalist has defended the ad as “legitimate,” with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also rallying to his defense. The controversy comes as polls show a tight race in Ohio, with one week until Election Day.

But several Republicans, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, have denounced the ad and called for it to be taken down.

Over the weekend, Ohio’s largest newspaper, The Plain Dealer, broke with its policy against endorsing candidates in major races to back Acton for governor.

“Vivek Ramaswamy, seeking the highest office in this state, has produced a campaign advertisement that weaponizes the sexual abuse his opponent, Amy Acton, suffered as a child,” the paper’s editorial board wrote.

“There are moments when a community must decide what it stands for, when its institutions have a duty to speak and when silence itself becomes a statement,” it added.

Ramaswamy has acknowledged that his campaign released the ad, which went viral on social media, and continued to defend it.

“It is an ad from our campaign, and the thing that I want to say is that I would love for this race and this election to be about the substantive issues that impact Ohioans, and unfortunately, Amy Acton has been hiding from those issues,” he told reporters last week.

Brendan Rascius contributed reporting