A resurfaced video from January 2023 has become a talking point in the 2026 Ohio governor's race, potentially complicating Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign. In the footage, taken at Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian school in Michigan, the former Republican presidential candidate and brief DOGE co-chair appears to offer faint praise for his home state.
Ramaswamy's Remarks at Hillsdale College
During a speech titled "The Rebellious Entrepreneur", Ramaswamy discussed seeking interns and recalled a conversation with an Indiana student named Emily. She asked about his favorite state, suggesting Ohio. Ramaswamy, who holds a 7.7% stake in BuzzFeed (HuffPost's parent company), responded: "Ohio's a good state, I just can't say it's the best state."
Reactions from Political Figures
Ohio GOP Chair Alex Triantafilou dismissed the clip as a "gotcha" tactic, stating: "These kinds of out-of-context clips aren't going to decide the race in Ohio. Ideas will. Vivek is a man of ideas for the future of Ohio."
However, Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton, who is in a statistical tie with Ramaswamy, seized on the remark: "Another position I disagree with Vivek Ramaswamy on."
Other critics included political commentator David Pepper, who noted Ramaswamy moved his business from Ohio to Texas before launching his gubernatorial bid, and independent candidate Casey Putsch, who called Ramaswamy the "best conman."
Additional Campaign Missteps
This is not Ramaswamy's first controversial statement. In November, he proposed a nine-hour school day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., a suggestion so extreme that many believed it was a Democratic smear.
The full 2023 speech is available below, highlighting Ramaswamy's ongoing struggle to connect with Ohio voters.
