Vivek Gets Confronted by Protestor at GOP Event, Encounter Takes a Surprising Turn [WATCH]

Vivek Ramaswamy, the headline speaker at the Wayne County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Dinner in Wooster, Ohio, made news over the weekend not just for his remarks at the event, but for his interaction with a group of Democrat protesters beforehand.

Prior to the dinner at the Greystone Event Center, protesters gathered with signs reading “Not Lincoln or Reagan’s America Anymore” and “Your Billions Won’t Buy Ohio.”

Some used noisemakers as passing vehicles honked in support.

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During the demonstration, Ramaswamy engaged one of the protesters, a woman identified only as Sandy, who expressed her concerns about job security and veteran benefits.

“I don’t want [to lose] all these jobs. I’m a veteran, and I’m worried about the health care and the VA,” Sandy said.

“I don’t want them people being fired. What we care about is veterans getting their benefits.”

Ramaswamy responded, “Yeah, so we’re gonna make sure veterans get their benefits in the state of Ohio. Being fired is another thing, but that’s different from making sure that we also gotta reform bureaucracy, because that’s a different issue.”

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Upon learning that Sandy was a Vietnam veteran, Ramaswamy thanked her for her service.

He then extended an unexpected invitation, welcoming the protesters to attend the dinner as his guests.

“All right, if some few of you want to come as my guests, you’re welcome tonight. All I ask is keep an open mind,” Ramaswamy said.

“We’ll do the same. We’re not going to agree on everything, but as long as we’re talking to each other in a respectful, civil way, then I do think that we’re going to be successful as a state.”

Sandy was the only protester to accept the invitation. Once inside, Ramaswamy took a moment to speak with her privately.

“I think that sometimes we need to talk to each other a little bit, yeah, and no, not all people are the same… not all Americans are the same,” he said.

“So sometimes, just talk to people, and you never can agree on everything. That’d be pretty boring if we did, so enjoy the dinner tonight and tell me what you think.”

Sandy replied, “You all have given me a different perspective on Republicans,” and Ramaswamy hugged her.

Later in the evening, Ramaswamy recognized Sandy’s military service and invited her onstage to address the crowd.

“I appreciate you giving us a chance to talk to you outside,” Sandy said.

“I really wasn’t expecting it, because I’m not a Trump person.”

They laughed, and Ramaswamy responded, “I was expecting that.”

He thanked her for her open-mindedness, and the audience applauded.

Ramaswamy later posted a video of the encounter on social media, writing, “Met a group of vocal Democrat protestors outside tonight & invited one of them in to join us for dinner. She’s a Vietnam veteran, was respectful & listened carefully through the evening. What she said by the end was incredible.”

Ramaswamy is currently viewed as a potential Republican contender for Ohio’s governorship in 2026. He is expected to face Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in the Republican primary.

Endorsements from President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and other prominent figures have boosted Ramaswamy’s profile.

However, Yost remains a strong candidate with longstanding ties to Ohio voters.

On the Democratic side, former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton is the only declared candidate so far.

Other possible Democratic contenders include former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and former U.S. Representative Tim Ryan, both of whom lost recent elections in Ohio.

The 2026 election is still more than a year away, and the primary race remains wide open.

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