Nick Fuentes said he will campaign in Ohio to try to block Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s bid for governor, delivering a livestream attack that included a derogatory slur and the claim he wouldn’t mind a Democrat winning. Ramaswamy had publicly criticized Fuentes at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, defending free speech while rejecting ethnic and religious hatred. Ramaswamy announced his gubernatorial candidacy in late February; Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited and leaves in January 2027.
Nick Fuentes Vows To Campaign Against Vivek Ramaswamy In Ohio After Slur-Laced Livestream
Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conference on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. At right is White nationalist Nick Fuentes outside a Turning Point event on June 15, 2024, in Detroit.
White nationalist commentator Nick Fuentes said he plans to campaign in Ohio to block Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s bid for governor, delivering a livestream rant that included a derogatory slur and a declaration that he would not object to a Democrat defeating Ramaswamy.
Fuentes made the announcement during a Tuesday livestream:
“I think I’m going to go to Ohio and the word that we are looking for is denial. We have to deny Vivek Ramaswamy the governorship. This is the only race I care about in ’26. It’s the only one I care about.”Reports say he also used a derogatory slur when referring to Ramaswamy and added that he would prefer to see Ramaswamy lose even to a Democrat.
When asked for comment, a Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital:
“We’re focused on the issues that matter most to Ohioans, not fringe voices that prefer a far-left Democrat to the Trump-endorsed conservative.”
Ramaswamy’s Response And AmericaFest Remarks
Ramaswamy had publicly criticized Fuentes days earlier while speaking at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, using the platform to outline his vision for the conservative movement and to repudiate hatred and extremism.
Ramaswamy is running to replace Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, shown here in the Old Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 21, 2025.
At AmericaFest, Ramaswamy said the movement should stand for principles rooted in 1776 and merit-based opportunity. He defended broad free speech — saying voices from "Nick Fuentes to Jimmy Kimmel" should be allowed to speak — while making clear that inflammatory or hateful views have no place in the conservative movement.
Ramaswamy singled out Fuentes for particularly extreme comments, saying:
“If you believe that Hitler was pretty f------ cool, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement.”He added that debate on policy issues like foreign aid and Israel is legitimate, but hatred directed at ethnic or religious groups is unacceptable.
Campaign Context: Ramaswamy announced his run for Ohio governor in late February. Current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited and will leave office in January 2027.
Reporters: Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital’s David Rutz contributed to this report.
