Democrats are throwing their political weight into the closing weeks of the 2026 midterms, with Ohio emerging as a major focus. A Saturday rally in Cleveland brought out former President Barack Obama to stump for two Democrat candidates.

Obama appeared on behalf of Amy Acton for governor and Sherrod Brown for senator. His remarks included an attempt at comedy targeting Republican U.S. Senate nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and President Trump, but the routine landed with considerably less force than Obama seemed to imagine.

The former president first invoked Gov. Mike DeWine and his criticism of a recent Ramaswamy campaign advertisement about Acton. The Left and its media allies have promoted the notion that the advertisement was “controversial” and represented a major “misstep” by Ramaswamy.

The advertisement featured Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, warning Ohio voters not to trust her daughter. Arthur accused Acton of having a pattern of lying, including about Ramaswamy in campaign advertisements and about her own background, in an effort to gain power.

BOMBSHELL:

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s own mother urges voters not to vote for her daughter. “My name is Donna Arthur and I’m Amy Acton’s mother. I worked at Children and Family Service Association, building one of the first two sexual abuse programs in America. I love my daughter, but when I saw her lying about her opponent—and it’s not easy for a mother to say this—but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life. My daughter needs help, and she can’t help you if she needs help herself. People can change, but first they have to tell the truth, and my daughter still isn’t doing that. Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.” That’s one hell of an October surprise. — Walter Curt (@wcdispatch) October 20, 2026

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Ramaswamy has refused to retreat amid the legacy media outrage. He told reporters Tuesday that Acton’s account of her past “does deserve to be scrutinized.”

His campaign also confirmed to the Cincinnati Enquirer that it would spend $4 million to broadcast the advertisement across Ohio. That is not exactly the response of a candidate preparing to surrender because the press decided to scold him.

Obama nevertheless tried to build a comedy routine around DeWine’s criticism of the advertisement. The problem with that approach is the strained relationship many Republicans, particularly conservatives, have with DeWine and his record.

President Obama on Governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's (R-OH) controversial campaign ad: "There is no line he will not cross. No low he will not sink to...there is a decency we should expect out of our public officials." https://t.co/st6Q4pa5lK

— CSPAN (@cspan) October 24, 2026

Acton served as DeWine’s Ohio Health Director during the beginning of the COVID pandemic. She played a central role in imposing emergency restrictions in a deeply Republican state that resembled the sort of sweeping measures associated with California or New York.

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The emergency orders carried Acton’s signature and statutory authority as director, while operating within the broader response led by the DeWine administration. Those orders closed school buildings from kindergarten through grade 12 and restricted businesses across Ohio.

Bars and restaurants were closed to patrons dining inside, while public gatherings and visits to nursing homes were limited. Ohio residents were also ordered to remain at home except when engaged in essential activities.

DeWine failed Buckeye voters by not removing or restraining Acton sooner. DeWine has defended his administration’s COVID record while saying Acton should not be blamed for decisions for which he, as governor, was ultimately responsible.

That record is not something Democrats can simply brush aside when Ohio voters enter the voting booths on Election Day. Obama’s decision to lean on DeWine as part of his attack therefore produced a particularly awkward spectacle.

In another clip, Obama targeted Trump over construction of the White House ballroom and other improvements to the People’s House. The supposed punchline revolved around “affordability,” the narrative Democrats have placed at the center of their midterm messaging.

The video was brief, but Obama’s mannerisms and delivery suggested that he believed the routine was working. The performance carried the air of an audition for The Daily Show or Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC talk show.

Obama also repeated the debunked claim that Trump paved over the White House Rose Garden. The performance offered familiar liberal applause lines, but little that could honestly be confused with a successful comedy set.

President Obama on President Trump: "He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory...so, he's clearly not focused on lowering prices for you." https://t.co/uqdlbWmNpU

— CSPAN (@cspan) October 24, 2026

The larger problem is that Democrats appear convinced that vicious political attacks qualify as humor. Their loyal audience may dutifully applaud, but Obama’s routine fell flat on both the laughter and honesty meters.

The stakes extend beyond one shaky performance in Cleveland. The 2026 midterms will determine the fate of Trump’s America First agenda, with Republicans needing to retain control of both chambers of Congress.

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