Ramaswamy’s Top Five Priorities:
* Reverse Youth Exodus: Eliminate the state income tax and reduce property taxes.
* Increase Energy Production: Promote fracking and new nuclear power plants.
* Improve K-12 Education.
* End Urban Crime: Increase penalties for repeat criminal offenders, including potential confinement in psychiatric institutions.
* Restore Open Dialogue/Positive Culture:
Ramaswamy offered few specifics but pointed to inviting a protester inside an event and citing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a moment for reflection.
Acton’s Counter-Platform:
In response, Dr. Amy Acton, the sole major Democratic candidate for governor, stated her platform focuses on lowering costs for Ohioans. Her campaign manager, Phil Stein, specified her commitment to:
* Easing the burden of everyday expenses (groceries, gas, healthcare, energy).
* Fully funding public schools.
* Strengthening the economy.
* Improving public safety.
* Cracking down on corruption that favors “billionaires and special interests.”
2026 Election Preview: The COVID Dynamic
The event offered a preview of the main attack line against Acton should she and Husted headline the 2026 ballot. Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantifilou labeled Acton “Ohio’s COVID queen,” blaming her for shutting down schools and nursing homes and then “quitting on Ohio”—a reference to her high-profile but brief tenure as State Health Department Director during the 2020 pandemic.
Republicans will likely need “mental gymnastics” to maintain this narrative, as Republican Governor Mike DeWine was the official who closed the schools, and Husted served as second-in-command during the administration’s daily briefings alongside Acton.
Husted sought to distance himself from Acton’s role, stating that while they were on “Team DeWine,” he “was fighting for opening things up,” while Acton “was fighting for closing things down,” with Gov. DeWine serving as the “referee.”