Vivek Ramaswamy -- 4/16/26

In this episode of the 55KRC Morning Show, host Brian Thomas interviews Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, ahead of the May 5th primary. Ramaswamy frames the election as a pivotal moment for Ohio’s future, positioning himself as a pro-business, anti-woke leader committed to rolling back property taxes to pre-pandemic levels and capping future increases at inflation. He argues that Ohio’s bloated layer of local governments—over 2,000 taxing authorities—undermines efficiency and competitiveness, and proposes a 'de-layering' of government to streamline services while maintaining funding for schools, police, and fire departments. He criticizes the current state of public education, citing a 45% third-grade literacy rate in Ohio’s largest districts and blaming 'woke' policies for lowering academic standards. Ramaswamy emphasizes personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the American Dream, drawing on his own immigrant success story and Catholic education at St. Xavier. He contrasts his conservative, capitalist vision with his opponent Amy Acton, whom he labels the first socialist governor Ohio has ever seen. The conversation closes with a call to action: voters should show up in the primary and bring nine friends to the polls, ensuring turnout in November. The episode also features a sponsor ad for QC Kinetics, a regenerative medicine clinic offering natural biologic treatments for joint and chronic pain.