Pop singer Olivia Rodrigo handed flowers to Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and hugged her during a concert at the Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State University campus on Friday, days before Ohioans head to the polls.
During her first show at the Columbus arena, Rodrigo walked into the crowd while performing her song “Stupid Song” to where Acton was seated and presented her with flowers. Rodrigo wore an “Amy Acton for Governor” shirt while performing.
Acton thanked Rodrigo afterward on X, writing, “Ohio Loves You.”
Acton faces Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy in Tuesday’s general election. Recent polling has shown Acton with a slight edge over Ramaswamy, though the margin falls within the polls’ margin of error.
The Columbus concert moment comes after a contentious stretch of the campaign. Last month, opponents of Acton aired an ad featuring her mother, identified as Ms. Arthur, criticizing her daughter’s candidacy.
“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,” Ms. Arthur said in the ad. “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.”
In the ad, Ms. Arthur went on to say, “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,” before closing with a direct appeal to voters: “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.”
The race between Acton and Ramaswamy will be decided Tuesday.
