COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Hundreds of people waited in line to attend a Turning Point USA event at The Ohio State University and hear from gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Turning Point USA, a conservative non-profit organization, was founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was honored by the speakers at the event on Tuesday night.
Before Ramaswamy spoke, the crowd heard from Savannah Chrisley.
Ramaswamy shared his goals with those in attendance. He said in 2027, electric bills will be lower, there will be more jobs, and housing costs will decrease in Ohio.
“I will promise every single Ohioan who votes for me lower costs, bigger paychecks, and better schools,” he said. “And to those who do not vote for me. I will also promise you lower costs, bigger paychecks, and better schools. That’s not too much to ask of our leaders, for Ohioans, for Americans right here at home. That much is on me. I believe we’re going to usher in a new dawn in Ohio, and I believe that a new dawn for Ohio will be a new dawn for America.”
People at the event also had the chance to ask Ramaswamy questions. Dozens of students lined up down the aisle to speak with him. Some openly shared viewpoints that do not align with Ramaswamy’s beliefs, and the crowd booed when those people spoke to him. Police escorted at least one person out of the event after the person was yelling expletives.
Students in attendance said they were grateful to have Turning Point USA and Ramaswamy on campus.
“It makes me feel very blessed and appreciative that they’re here, that we can be here and see this happen,” said high schooler Emma Mcelroy.
“It gives me hope for humanity,” said Keaton Zech, a high school student. “To have the unity in the leadership, especially around Christian principles, to grow up, to build our nation back towards our roots, of what the founders truly envisioned, and to stand for freedom in life as Americans always will and always should.”
“I think if anything, it makes us more energized for the election in November to see him coming here,” said Aric Schauer, Political Director, College Democrats at OSU. “I think it’s a slap in the face, frankly. We had him two weeks ago saying that he’s going to consolidate our public schools, eliminate effectively. We have over 300,000 students here in the state of Ohio in our public universities. It supports almost 900,000 jobs.”
Josie Speakman, President of the College Democrats at Ohio State, has this message for her fellow students.
“I know that you’re worried about stable housing,” she said. “I know that you’re worried about the conditions in the dorms. I know that you’re worried about affording your education. Those are things that we’re here fighting for. And those are things that Vivek Ramaswamy is not gonna fight for.”
