Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made a campaign pit stop at Ohio State University (OSU) with Turning Point USA. While speaking to those in attendance, he said in 2027, electric bills will be lower, there will be more jobs, and housing costs will decrease in Ohio.
“I will promise every single Ohioan who votes for me lower costs, bigger paychecks, and better schools,” he said. “And to those who do not vote for me. I will also promise you lower costs, bigger paychecks, and better schools. That’s not too much to ask of our leaders, for Ohioans, for Americans right here at home. That much is on me. I believe we’re going to usher in a new dawn in Ohio, and I believe that a new dawn for Ohio will be a new dawn for America.”
Ramaswamy’s supporters at OSU included high schoolers. “It makes me feel very blessed and appreciative that they’re here, that we can be here and see this happen,” said one such high schooler Emma Mcelroy.
READ: Vivek Ramaswamy pitches Ohio’s education reform, receives backslash (November 27, 2025)
“It gives me hope for humanity,” said Keaton Zech, another high school student. “To have the unity in the leadership, especially around Christian principles, to grow up, to build our nation back towards our roots, of what the founders truly envisioned, and to stand for freedom in life as Americans always will and always should.”
“I think if anything, it makes us more energized for the election in November to see him coming here,” said Aric Schauer, Political Director, College Democrats at OSU. “I think it’s a slap in the face, frankly. We had him two weeks ago saying that he’s going to consolidate our public schools, eliminate effectively. We have over 300,000 students here in the state of Ohio in our public universities. It supports almost 900,000 jobs.”
However, the event was not without its hiccups as reportedly some openly shared viewpoints that do not align with Ramaswamy’s beliefs, and the crowd booed when those people spoke to him with police escorting at least one person out of the event after the person was yelling expletives.
Ramaswamy also shared a post to X which said:
“You can travel to Italy, but you’ll never be an Italian.
You can travel to France but you’ll never be a Frenchman.
You can live in Germany but you’ll never be a German
You can pack your bags and live the rest of your life in China or Japan, but you’ll never be Chinese or Japanese.
READ: Vivek Ramaswamy’s Thanksgiving draws attention, sparks criticism from Nikki Haley’s son (November 27, 2025)
Yet you can come from any one of those countries to the United States of America, and you can still be an American – so long as you work hard, you play by the rules, you make your contributions, wait your turn, pledge allegiance to the flag, and obtain your citizenship.”
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 Republican presidential candidate, entered Ohio’s 2026 gubernatorial race after building national recognition as a political outsider aligned with the Trump wing of the Republican Party. Born in Cincinnati, he returned to state politics in 2025 by launching a campaign to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine.
Ramaswamy’s campaign quickly became one of the most high-profile Republican contests in the country, driven by his national name recognition, personal wealth, and strong backing from conservative leaders. He received early endorsements from Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans, helping him consolidate support and avoid a crowded primary fight. His platform emphasizes economic growth, deregulation, education reform, and a broader critique of what he describes as “woke” corporate and institutional influence. He also positions himself as an outsider who would bring business-style leadership to state government.
On the Democratic side, former Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton emerged as the main opponent, framing the race as a contrast between public-sector experience and private-sector disruption.