ANTHEM — Vivek Ramaswamy and other elected officials stood for “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Jefferson County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner Wednesday. The officials are, from left, Ohio Auditor Keith Faber; Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprage; Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons. -- Christopher Dacanay

WINTERSVILLE — Nearly 600 people packed tightly into St. Florian Event Center Wednesday to hear 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s plans to restore the American dream for Ohioans.

“The American dream is your birthright in this state,” Ramaswamy told attendees at the Jefferson County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. “A world-class education is your birthright in the state. Success is your birthright, freedom is your heritage and excellence is your destiny.”

In the Jefferson County GOP’s history of Lincoln Day dinners, Wednesday’s was the most well-attended and likely the most cramped, with people flocking to see Ramaswamy’s keynote address and other candidates for political office speak.

Ramaswamy, 39, is the founder of Roivant Sciences, a pharmaceutical biotechnology company. He rose to national prominence in 2023 upon declaring his candidacy for the Republican presidential primaries — ultimately withdrawing from the race to endorse now-President Donald Trump.

A Cincinnati native and Columbus-area resident, Ramaswamy is one of several candidates seeking the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by Gov. Mike DeWine, who’s reached his term limit.

MEET-AND-GREET — 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy answered questions from citizens and elected officials during a meet-and-greet session at St. Florian Event Center Wednesday. -- Christopher Dacanay

Joining Ramaswamy at Wednesday’s dinner were Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, candidate for Ohio secretary of state; Auditor Keith Faber, candidate for Ohio attorney general; and Secretary of State Frank LaRose, candidate for Ohio auditor.

In his address, Ramaswamy reflected positively on Trump’s efforts thus far to turn federal programs over to the states. It’s the beginning of a “new, golden age for federalism,” one that requires strong leaders at the state level to leverage, he said.

“We have a leader at the top who’s reviving our conviction in America, but what we need here is a leader who revives our conviction in Ohio. And that is why, last month, I declared my candidacy to become the next governor of the great state at the heart of the greatest nation known to the history of mankind.”

Ramaswamy, who’s been endorsed by Trump in his bid for governor, pointed to Ohio’s abundant natural resources and history of industrial dominance to support the feasibility of his vision, which emphasizes meritocracy, economic prosperity and investment in emerging sectors. He called for Ohio to become a destination for businesses and families nationwide.

“We were the state of excellence in America, and I believe we can be that state again,” he said. “The same gifts we had the first time around, we have it right now.”

DISCUSSING — Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson spoke with 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during the latter’s meet-and-greet session at St. Florian Event Center Wednesday. -- Christopher Dacanay

The state is in the midst of a second industrial revolution, he said. This one is characterized by “sectors of the future” such as semiconductor production and cryptocurrency.

Becoming an attractive and prosperous state will require a leader with “fresh legs” and a few changes, including elimination of Ohio’s income tax and the reduction of burdensome property taxes, Ramaswamy said. He also proposed regulatory rollback, cutting 10 regulations for every one added, so businesses are free to grow.

Ramaswamy expressed his support for law enforcement and desire to establish “long-term compassionate, mental and psychiatric health care.” His call for welfare reform would see work requirements attached to certain programs.

“What’s not compassionate is to make somebody permanently dependent on the government,” he said, adding, “What’s driving the depression epidemic, anxiety, fentanyl usage, opioid usage, addictions, suicide, is that sense of loss of purpose and meaning in our state. We’ve got to fill that by putting people back to work and reviving that sense of purpose, that sense of human dignity.”

As he’d done in a meet-and-greet prior to the dinner, Ramaswamy highlighted the three greatest challenges he believes Ohio is facing.

KEYNOTE — 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy gave the keynote address at the Jefferson County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner Wednesday. -- Christopher Dacanay

He warned of demographic challenges, with Ohio’s population shrinking and young people continuing to move out.

If elected, Ramaswamy promised that Ohio’s population will grow from 11 million to 15 million within his first term. He called for pathways in support of all careers through higher education and vocational training, and aims to attract educated youth through property tax reductions and the income tax elimination.

Also, Ramaswamy pointed to rising electricity costs and the power grid’s projected inability to meet demands in the future. This could lead to rolling power outages if action isn’t taken soon, he said.

To handle the power shortage, Ramaswamy proposed keeping coal plants open and investing in natural gas infrastructure. He suggested the need to streamline power plant permitting and the development of small, modular nuclear reactors to ensure energy resilience.

Ramaswamy claimed that U.S. students are underperforming compared to students of equivalent grade level in other countries.

His solutions for education include implementing merit-based pay for teachers, to attract top educators; mandating that students pass the U.S. naturalization civics test before graduation, to revive civic education; eliminating cellphones in classrooms and re-implementing fitness tests.

The son of Indian immigrants, Ramaswamy said he plans to visit all 88 Ohio counties this year and next, as well as during every year of his term as governor, if elected. The reason, he said, is to hear from constituents of every county and collaborate across political party lines.

“We don’t have to be a nation in decline. I believe we are still a state in our ascent,” Ramaswamy said, listing aspirations for the next 10 years. “You know what young people are going to say then? As they do on the Internet today: ‘Only in Ohio.'”

He continued: “We’re going to be the state where we look our kids in the eye and we mean it when we tell them you can get ahead in the United States of America with your own hard work, your own commitment, your own dedication, … and you are free to speak your mind in every step of the way. That is the American dream.”