Ramaswamy quotes JFK, outlines conservative vision and policies in Phoenix

Phoenix – Ohio gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy warned conservatives not to take any political race for granted, including his own, and commented on what AmericaFest, which draws thousands of voters and activists, including young people, means for the future of the right.

Ramaswamy spoke to Fox News Digital shortly after arriving at the Phoenix Convention Center on Friday, where he said he met several people who told him they were willing to join him at the conference.

“Funny enough — and I like to do this often when I go out west — I went for a hike earlier today to a place called Camelback Mountain, and we saw that there were tons of young people who were going to be here tonight and were spending time outdoors, so I had the opportunity to talk to a lot of them,” he said.

“I’d say there’s an enthusiastic and determined mood, but there’s also a dignified emotionality. It’s clear that many of these young people, like me and the rest of us, have been affected by Charlie’s death. And they’re hungry for direction.”

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Many of the young conservatives he met seemed to want to figure out the direction the conservative movement and TPUSA would take after Kirk’s death.

In Ohio, where he is trying to replace term-limited moderate Republican Mike DeWine, Ramaswamy emphasized that he is not taking the race lightly, even though Ohio is reliably red.

Republicans are suffering a series of losses from Florida to Pennsylvania just weeks ago.

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“I think we need to worry less about just beating the left because we did that last year. That’s not good enough. We should actually present our own vision of what we stand for,” Ramaswamy said.

“And in Ohio, I know I can deliver on two things that Ohio needs and I believe this country needs: No. 1, is to put more money in people’s pockets,” he said. He noted that the government cannot immediately rein in rising commodity costs as voters demand President Donald Trump be elected rather than Kamala Harris pursuing the Biden agenda.

“We can do some things, like lower electric bills by producing more energy. We’ll do those things. But the direct way we can help people is to put more money in people’s pockets by reducing the property tax burden, reducing the income tax rate to zero, so people can actually have more money to buy things, not just wait for costs to come down,” he said.

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“And No. 2, it prepares our youth to be useful, contributing members of the workforce with a better education system.”

Ramaswamy said the education system has failed American youth through years of “woke brainwashing” and that “victimhood psychology” is something states need to fix.

“As someone who has run for president, I can tell you that a governor can make a much bigger difference than a president when it comes to education,” he said.

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“I hope we in Ohio set an example of what the other 49 states can aim for.”

Ramaswamy, who runs beyond Trump’s 2028 term limit, said the conservative movement will continue as long as it maintains its “aspirational” focus.

“That’s my message to young people tonight, and it’s a compelling one. It’s not subtle. The No. 1 factor that determines whether you will achieve your goals in life is actually you. It’s a tough message, but it’s true. JFK’s famous quote goes: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ “Now is the time to remember this message,” he said.

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Turning to another Kennedy, Ramaswamy, who founded the biotech pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He was asked for his opinion on the MAHA agenda followed by.

Ramaswamy said MAHA has identified the health of youth as the most important thing for healthy future generations.

Kennedy’s quest for healthier food in schools and a return to stronger physical education standards form the basis of the “fundamental thesis behind MAHA”.

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“So, who would have thought that the best way to reduce health care costs is to actually have a healthier population in the first place,” Ramaswamy said.

“This is something that most Americans get behind. The ‘how’ is easier said than done, of course, but there are common-sense changes at the state level that I’m confident we can implement in Ohio, they’re not a left-right thing. This is a right-wrong thing. It’s common sense, and I’m sure we’ll be able to implement them quickly after I win this election.”