Welcome to From the Politics Desk , a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, Jonathan Allen digs into the fallout from a controversial ad that has roiled Ohio politics. Plus, we explore two Senate races where Black voters are playing a critical role.

— Adam Wollner

Ramaswamy’s ad splits the GOP in Ohio’s closing stretch

Analysis by Jonathan Allen

If there’s one notion that Republican Vivek Ramaswamy reinforced with an ad featuring his opponent’s estranged mother this week, it’s that he is trailing in his bid to become Ohio’s governor.

In the ad, Donna Arthur calls her daughter, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton , a “liar.” Acton has previously talked about how, as a child, she was sexually abused by her mother’s husband.…