Ohio Venues Cancel Vivek Ramaswamy Events as Backlash Grows

Ohio venues are pulling out of hosting Republican campaign events featuring gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, as backlash grows over his advert featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother.

The Old Dog Ale House & Brewery in Delaware, Ohio, canceled a GOP event featuring Ramaswamy last Friday, according to USA Today reporter Jessie Balmert. The Ohio GOP said they had selected a new location for the event.

Meanwhile, Elliot's Wood Fired Kitchen in Newark said in the comments section of a recent Facebook post that it would not host the Ohio GOP's planned event on Tuesday. The Ohio Republican Party's bus tour website now lists the location of the event as "to be announced."

Several Ohio venues that hosted GOP events over the weekend have received a wave of one-star Google reviews following the events, including Kick-N-Ax in Zanesville, Izzy's in Monroe, and The Local Bar Strongsville. Some reviewers included photos of Ramaswamy at the venues.

Ramaswamy has faced bipartisan criticism after his campaign produced an advert featuring his Democratic opponent's estranged mother, who called Acton "a liar."

Acton has said that she was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child, and has not seen her mother since she testified against him in court aged 12. She said that her stepfather was charged with rape before he fled the state with her mother.

This is a developing story. More to follow.