Ramaswamy to clergy: “We share common ground on how Ohio should be governed” (SLIDESHOW)

MANSFIELD — This week Governor-hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy met with 60 faith leaders at Walker Lake Baptist Church to discuss his positions on faith, family, and freedom. Ramaswamy believes prior to the election the U.S. was in a national identity crisis precipitated by what he calls “new secular religions like COVID-ism, climate-ism, and gender ideology.” In 2020 he wrote the book called “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam.” While still early in the 2026 Ohio Gubernatorial Race, Ramaswamy has already won the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Now he hopes to gain more support.

“I am running for Governor of Ohio guided by a sense of deep gratitude to this country,” the business entrepreneur told the clergy. “My parents came to Cincinnati with no money 40 years ago. Yet I have founded successful companies, and have a wife and two children. The American Dream I have lived is not something I was entitled to. It is now my turn to pass that same dream on to young people who have lost purpose and meaning and to fill their hearts with faith in GOD, patriotism, hard work, and family.”

The gubernatorial candidate told the clergy in 2023 he voted against legalizing recreational marijuana, and against enshrining abortion into the Constitution. He also points out despite the 2023 election results, marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. “On a constitutional and legal basis, the federal law is still supreme. So whether it is municipalities calling themselves sanctuary cities or our state legalizing marijuana, both of these examples are still violations of the rule of law.” Ramaswamy went on to say, “As Governor, we will not sponsor, support, or condone the violation of federal law in the State of Ohio.”

Bucyrus Pastor Jerrill Wyler, who runs a private school at his church, asked Ramaswamy if he supports the freedom of private schools to be recipients of state monies and still operate under their own religious principles. Ramaswamy answered, “The last thing you want is a school voucher to be a ‘Trojan Horse’ and for the leftist agenda to pollute private schools the same way they did with public schools. The Ohio Constitution is actually stronger than the U.S. Constitution when it comes to the protection of religious liberty. Government aid should not trump religious freedom enshrined in our Constitution,” he told Wyler.

Ramaswamy clarified an earlier point reassuring Mansfield Pastor Robert Kurtz that he wants testing requirements and merit-based pay for public schools and not private. “While I support school choice, I also want our public schools to be able to compete with the best of the alternatives.” Ramaswamy stated he supports the Backpack Bill and supports money following the student. “Competition breeds the best results; that is a model that works.”

Youngstown Pastor Juan Rivera, who also serves on the Governor’s Hispanic Christian Leadership Committee, asked Mr. Ramaswamy as Governor and overseer of Ohio’s higher education, how he would address the rise in anti-Semitism incidents that are being seen on Ohio college campuses. Presently the Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati are on a list of 59 colleges under investigation by the Justice Department for not upholding the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

“Many of these protesters do not even know what they are protesting,” Ramaswamy said. “In some cases, the protesters are flying Palestinian flags and rainbow flags together, not realizing they do not mix very well. In the long run, we have to fill their void of deeper purpose with virtue. In the short run, you have the rule of law. No one has the right to blockade someone into a classroom or to engage in vandalism, violence or assault. Threats of physical intimidation deserve to be prosecuted.”

Orville Pastor Jerry O’Brien asked Vivek Ramaswamy whether evangelical leaders will have access to his office. Ramaswamy acknowledged that he had already been contemplating the idea for several weeks. “You have my commitment as Governor to have an Evangelical Advisory Board,” Ramaswamy said. “I do not want this to be a PR stunt, I hope this will enrich me as a leader. I think we are going to find we share the same value-set in how to govern the state. I think it will make me a better leader by considering perspectives and to take time to slow down with a group of people I can pray with and take advice from. That is something I welcome,” he said.

Ramaswamy addressed concerns on election integrity. “A lot of the work has to be done at the state level. I said it before when I ran for President and I will say it again because I can get it done as Governor: Single day voting on election day, make it a state holiday, paper ballots, and government-issued voter ID. Mistakes were made in the past and we are going to correct them in the future,” Ramaswamy said to applause.

The Columbus resident gave the faith leaders a sneak preview of what is to come. “You have to look at the ticket as a whole. I know what my attributes are, so there needs to be someone who complements my skill set. Based on that, my pick for Lieutenant Governor will be a solid Christian conservative.”

Since 2015, North Central Ohio clergymen have endorsed at least 18 candidates for elected office with 11 of those winning their respective races. “We had lead clergy from 49 congregations across 17 different counties that made reservations to attend this Clergy Roundtable with Vivek,” says Pastor J.C. Church, the event facilitator. “My hope is that many of these clergy who got to hear and meet Vivek in person will publicly endorse him as the next Governor of Ohio.”

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in Proverbs 8, “By Me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by Me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.”

View slideshow below of Clergy Roundtable with Vivek Ramaswamy at the Mansfield Walker Lake Baptist Church on Monday, March 17th.

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