Ramaswamy leans on conservative youth at AmericaFest, eyes 2026 races
At AmericaFest in Phoenix, the Ohio candidate urges a forward-looking vision and deeper engagement with young voters as the movement maps its next phase.
PHOENIX — Vivek Ramaswamy, the Ohio gubernatorial candidate and biotech entrepreneur, told Fox News Digital that conservatives should not take any race for granted, including his own, during remarks at AmericaFest. Speaking after arriving at the Phoenix Convention Center, he said the event is drawing thousands of voters and activists, including a younger generation, and that several attendees told him they were energized to join the conference.
He described the mood among young conservatives as a mix of enthusiasm and determination, tempered by a sober sentimentality. "It's clear that a lot of these young people were, I mean, just like me and the rest of us, affected by Charlie's death. And they're hungry for direction," he said after hiking Camelback Mountain and meeting attendees.
On Ohio, where he is seeking to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine, Ramaswamy cautioned that Republicans cannot take the race for granted even as Ohio has trended red. He argued the party must offer a concrete policy vision, not just aim to defeat the left. "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 do we actually stand for," he said. He outlined two priorities: first, putting more money back in people’s pockets—by reducing taxes and controlling energy costs; second, preparing the next generation through education reforms. "No. 1 is to put more money back in people's pockets," he said, suggesting energy policy could lower electric bills by increasing domestic energy production, and calling for lowering the income tax rate to zero and reducing property taxes to ease households' burdens.
He argued that governors can be more effective than presidents on education, citing the impact of state-level policy on schools. He criticized what he called woke indoctrination and "victimhood psychology," arguing states should enact reforms he described as common sense.
Looking beyond former President Donald Trump’s term in 2028, Ramaswamy said the conservative movement would endure as long as it remains aspirational. "The No. 1 factor that determines whether you achieve your goals in life is actually you," he said, invoking John F. Kennedy’s call to service. "Now's the moment to remember that message." He urged young people to pursue personal responsibility and service as the movement evolves.
The candidate also touched on the policy conversation around health and youth. Asked about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA agenda, he said Kennedy’s push to prioritize youth health reflects a belief that healthier populations can reduce healthcare costs and that such reforms work best with state-level implementation. "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," Ramaswamy said. He framed the MAHA approach as something achievable through nonpartisan, common-sense steps at the state level, especially in Ohio.
As he spoke to Fox News, Ramaswamy signaled that the movement's next phase will hinge on energizing a broader coalition, including youth drawn to a fusion of populism and a reform-minded agenda. He suggested that conservatives must articulate a positive, practical program—not only to win elections but to build a lasting governing coalition. With AmericaFest drawing thousands of attendees, the event stood as a focal point for those envisioning a future where a younger generation helps shape the direction of the Republican party.