The first time I saw Vivek Ramaswamy in person was at a January 2026 meet-and-greet with Republican movers and shakers in southwest Ohio. It was held at the home of one of them—a mini-mansion in the city of Mason. The event was organized as an open forum where attendees could talk about their biggest political concerns and ask Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, about his policy ideas.
The meeting was fairly informal. Finger foods were spread out over a long table in the corner while some sat on couches or chairs and others crowded around the would-be governor. Security was provided by middle-aged men in leather vests bearing the insignia of their group, Bikers for Trump. Each participant was encouraged to introduce themselves and mention an issue they cared deeply about.
