Ohio Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy posted a clip from a Saturday rally with President Donald Trump in Vandalia, saying he is running against “the Kamala Harris of Ohio” and will beat her in 2026 the way the state beat Kamala Harris in 2024. The remarks refer to Democratic nominee Amy Acton, the former Ohio health director. Online users reacted after the post spread, with some backing the line and others saying he is not Trump and Ohio does not like him.
The video, marked live from Vandalia, shows President Donald Trump at the podium with Ramaswamy beside him, then Ramaswamy taking the microphone as Trump stands behind him.
In the remarks, Ramaswamy says, “I heard you in your speech, Mr. President, speaking about your race against Kamala Harris and her eloquent thoughts during that race. That’s when it clicked for me tonight. I am running against the Kamala Harris of Ohio.” The clip does not show the full speech before or after that exchange.
The caption reads, “We beat Kamala Harris in Ohio in ’24, and we’re going to beat the Kamala Harris of Ohio in ’26.” The line refers to Democratic nominee Amy Acton, the former Ohio health director.
The Dayton Daily News, which covered the rally, reported that Trump criticized Acton and called Ramaswamy to the stage, and that the gym was packed, with lines stretching past the school’s football field. The paper also noted more than 100 protesters outside, focused on the cost of living. The footage itself does not show those protesters.
How Viewers Are Responding to the Vandalia Rally Clip
Some viewers backed the comparison. One wrote, “Go VIVEK.” Another said, “Ohio beat Kamala once. Vivek destroys her clone next.” A reply under the post added, “Packed house. Energy was electric.”
Others pushed back on whether the 2024 result carries over. One commenter wrote, “You are not Trump, Ohio does not like you!”
Another said, “You’re so cooked. Trump and Gruden flew in, and you’re still going to lose a red state.” A third wrote, “Sorry Vivek, there’s no enthusiasm, bud. You’re screwed.”
Away from the replies, the Dayton Daily News account of the same night described supporters lining up early and a crowd that filled the gym, alongside the protest outside over prices. The governor’s race has also been polling close, with a late-September Bowling Green State University/YouGov survey showing Acton at 48 percent and Ramaswamy at 45 percent.
For now, the Vandalia line sits inside a close Ohio governor’s race between Ramaswamy and Acton. Online, the clip has drawn both support for the comparison and doubts that the 2024 result will carry over in 2026.
