Vivek Ramaswamy urged conservatives not to take any political races for granted while meeting energized young activists at AmericaFest. He emphasized two priorities for his Ohio gubernatorial campaign: returning more money to families through tax and energy policies, and reforming education to better prepare youth for the workforce. Ramaswamy also praised parts of RFK Jr.'s MAHA agenda for prioritizing youth health as a way to reduce long-term health-care costs.
Vivek Ramaswamy Courts Conservative Youth at AmericaFest, Lays Out Ohio Agenda
Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at a campaign rally.
Ohio gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is courting young conservatives as he outlines a two-pronged agenda for Ohio and the broader conservative movement. Speaking to Fox News Digital after arriving at the Phoenix Convention Center for AmericaFest, Ramaswamy described a charged atmosphere of enthusiasm and determination among attendees — many of them young people looking for direction following the death of Charlie Kirk.
Meeting Young Activists
Ramaswamy said he met numerous energized attendees at the convention center and even encountered many younger supporters while hiking Camelback Mountain earlier in the day. He described the mood as "a combination of enthusiastic and determined, but with a sober sentimentality as well," noting that many attendees were personally affected by Kirk's passing and eager to find the movement's next direction.
Ohio Race: No Seatbelt on Victory
Back in Ohio — where he is running to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine — Ramaswamy cautioned Republicans against complacency. Pointing to recent GOP losses in other states, he said conservatives "can't assume victory simply because of past results" and must instead build a positive, aspirational agenda.
"I think we’ve got to worry less about just defeating the left because we did that last year. That's not good enough. We have to offer our own vision of what we actually stand for," he said.
Two Core Promises
Ramaswamy outlined two priorities he believes Ohio — and the country — need: returning more money to families and reforming education to better prepare young people for the workforce. On the economic front, he emphasized state-level steps to ease household burdens, including expanding energy production to lower utility costs, cutting property taxes and reducing the income tax rate.
"The direct way we can help people is put more money in people's pockets by bringing down the property tax burden, by taking the income tax rate down to zero so people are actually able to have more money to afford things," he said.
On education, Ramaswamy criticized what he called "woke indoctrination" and a culture of "victimhood psychology," arguing that governors can have more direct impact than presidents when it comes to school policy. He said he wants Ohio to become a model for other states by prioritizing workforce-ready skills and stronger academic standards.
On Youth Health and MAHA
Ramaswamy, founder of biotech firm Roivant Sciences, also commented on the MAHA (Maternal and Adolescent Health Agenda) priorities advanced by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He praised MAHA's focus on youth health, saying preventative measures such as healthier school meals and stronger physical education standards can help reduce long-term health-care costs.
"The best way to bring down health care costs — who would have ever thought? — is actually to have a healthier population in the first place," he said, adding that many proposed reforms are commonsense changes states can pursue beyond partisan divides.
Looking Ahead
Ramaswamy urged young conservatives to embrace personal responsibility and aspiration, invoking the idea that individual effort is a key determinant of success. He said the conservative movement can continue to grow if it remains focused on practical solutions and an aspirational vision for the future.
