CLYDE – Vivek Ramaswamy, a gubernatorial candidate, delivered the keynote speech at the Sandusky and Seneca County 2025 Lincoln Day Dinner, emphasizing the importance of growing Ohio’s economy.
On April 24, Ramaswamy spoke for 40 minutes, focusing on issues frequently raised by conservative candidates, such as cutting the Department of Education, deporting illegal immigrants, lowering taxes, and embracing Christian conservative policies.
At the same time, he advocated for a big-tent philosophy, including blue-collar workers in the Republican Party, a pro-technology economy, and social policies to increase population numbers.
“We are a red state.” We have control over all three branches of government. If we don’t get this right away, it’s on us, not anyone else,” Ramaswamy stated. “Now is our opportunity to return to our vision of what it means to be a citizen, and what it means to be an American in 2025. The answer remains unchanged from 1776.
He criticized the Biden administration and Amy Acton, a potential Democratic Party nominee and former director of the Department of Health under Gov. Mike DeWine, but emphasized the policies he would pursue as governor.
“Our best days are still ahead. “I want to focus on the future of our country and Ohio,” Ramaswamy said. “We’re in the middle of a revival of conviction.”
He next referred to “ideals like meritocracy and the pursuit of excellence, the idea that you can get ahead in this country not because of the color of your skin, but by the content of your character and your contributions.”
His economic vision included promoting jobs in semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, artificial intelligence, biotech, and Bitcoin, as well as defense, industrial production, and natural resources such as farming, coal, and natural gas.
“Where it was Silicon Valley leading the American economy for the last 10 years, it’s going to be the Ohio River Valley that will lead for the next 10 years,” Ramaswamy told the audience.
He also intends to increase the state population to 15 million by lowering both income and property taxes.
“Our best public school teachers deserve to be paid significantly more than they are now. “You can’t live the American dream anymore with a starting salary of $30,000,” Ramaswamy said.
He then discussed tying pay to performance.
Earlier that day, Ramaswamy visited Fremont’s Vanguard-Sentinel Adult Career and Technology Center. He met with Superintendent Greg Edinger and brought him on stage to speak at the dinner.
Ramaswamy would also promote a moment of silence in classrooms, taking cell phones out of schools and civics tests that are the same as citizenship tests given to immigrants.
He also talked about removing the skilled-trades stigma.
“We’re not going to call these professions ‘trades’ anymore. We’re going to call them professions,” Ramaswamy said. “We’re a nation built on meritocracy.”
The sold-out event took place at Seneca County’s Frankart Barn, which housed over 550 people. A 150-person VIP event held prior to the dinner filled a banquet hall, setting a new record for the Lincoln Day Dinner.
“We’re excited about the turnout tonight,” Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart said. “I’ll tell you what, he did an excellent job laying out his platform for governor. I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses and hoping he becomes our next governor.
Ramaswamy’s popularity has led to people traveling to see him several times.
“This is the third time I’ve heard Vivek speak. I adore the guy. I think he’s great and will make a good governor,” said Michael Orange of Sylvania, Ohio, whose wife, Barbara Orange, is the Lucas County Republican Party chairperson. “I like most of his ideas. He is stealing some of them from Florida and other locations, but that is fine. That’s what makes our country great.
Mel McCord, an Oak Harbor and Fremont resident, described Ramaswamy as “amazing.”
“He’s going to do great things,” McCord said. “Bringing God back into our politics and our lives, and giving us the opportunity to have faith again, is enormous. That’s something that will get us back on our feet.”
The event program stated Ramaswamy was a nationally ranked tennis player and valedictorian at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He went on to graduate from Harvard and Yale. He was a hedge fund partner and the founder of Roivant Sciences, which contributed to his estimated net worth of nearly $1 billion, according to Forbes.
Ramaswamy’s book, “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam,” which was published in 2021, is a New York Times bestseller.
Ramaswamy ran for president in 2023 and has received President Donald Trump’s endorsement for Ohio governor.
