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Ramaswamy torches Dem rival over ‘outrageous’ COVID-19 claim: ‘Spewing lies’
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton has drawn criticism from Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy after referring to COVID-19 mortality rates as having reached 50% during the pandemic. Ramaswamy called the claim “outrageous” and accused her of repeating falsehoods to defend decisions made during Ohio’s lockdown period, making the dispute a focal point in the governor’s race.
The report says Acton made the remarks in a September 2025 interview, apparently referring to the early stages of the pandemic. Her opponents argue that the figure exaggerates COVID-19’s overall fatality rate, while Acton’s comments appear intended to stress the uncertainty and perceived severity facing public-health officials at the time.
In short
- Acton’s COVID mortality claim sparked criticism from Ramaswamy.
- Ramaswamy says the 50% figure is false and inflammatory.
- The row centres on Ohio’s pandemic-era restrictions.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Acton’s reference to a 50% mortality rate may have been intended to describe the danger officials believed they faced in the pandemic’s uncertain early stages, rather than the virus’s overall fatality rate. From this perspective, recalling the worst fears at the time helps explain why officials took precautionary measures under pressure and with limited information.
The case against
A 50% mortality figure can give a seriously misleading impression if it is heard as COVID-19’s actual overall fatality rate. Ramaswamy’s criticism reflects the view that public officials should describe risks precisely, especially when defending consequential lockdown decisions, and that overstating danger can undermine public trust.
Explained simply
Ohio's upcoming gubernatorial election has become the focus of a dispute over comments made about COVID-19 mortality rates during the pandemic. Democratic nominee Amy Acton and Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy are at odds over remarks Acton made referring to COVID-19 death rates reaching 50 per cent. Ramaswamy has called the claim false and accused Acton of misrepresenting facts to justify pandemic-era lockdown decisions.
Acton made the remarks in an interview last September, apparently referring to the early stages of the pandemic when uncertainty about the virus was high. She appears to have been highlighting how limited information at the time made public-health decisions difficult. Ramaswamy's campaign argues that the 50 per cent figure dramatically overstates COVID-19's actual death rate and constitutes a dishonest defence of Ohio's lockdown policies.
The exchange illustrates how decisions made during the pandemic remain contested in American politics. The argument centres on whether Acton's framing was a reasonable characterisation of early pandemic uncertainty or a misleading exaggeration, with both views now shaping voters' assessments of her fitness for office.