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Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed it produced the controversial ad featuring Dr. Amy Acton's long-estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who calls her daughter "a liar." The campaign is spending $4 million to run the ad statewide and has declined to pull it despite bipartisan condemnation. Acton's brother says the siblings were removed from their mother's custody as children after their stepfather was indicted for raping Acton between ages 9 and 12. Gov. Mike DeWine called the ad "deeply, deeply troubling" and urged Ramaswamy to take it down while keeping his endorsement; Sen. Jon Husted and former Rep. Jim Renacci also criticized it, warning of a GOP backlash. VP JD Vance dismissed the outcry as "whining," and President Trump defended Ramaswamy, calling the mother's hostility "unusual." Acton leads polling in a race drawing over $120 million in outside spending.

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican, has endorsed Democratic candidate Terrence Davis to succeed her, breaking with her party after losing the GOP nomination to Heather Baxter at the state convention in June. In a column for South Dakota War College, Johnson cited Davis's law enforcement background, criminal justice degree and public policy graduate work, saying he prioritizes transparency, voting rights and functional government systems. She urged voters to look past party labels, arguing Davis is best prepared for the role.

Baxter pushed back, defending party loyalty and standards including paper balloting, photo ID requirements and opposition to same-day voter registration, calling the office too important for a "consolation prize." Davis has said restoring public trust in elections is his central focus. Democrats have not won statewide office in South Dakota since 2015, and the state has voted heavily for Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections, making the race a notable test of party lines in a deep-red state.