Vivek Ramaswamy Urges Republicans To Offer ‘Alternative Vision’ To Socialists Like Mamdani

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says that the Democratic Party’s leftward drift is an opportunity for Republicans to push free enterprise.

“The key answer right now is is it about socialism or capitalism.” Ramaswamy said in a Monday interview on Fox & Friends. “That’s the choice. It’s a fork in the road for the future of the country.”

Ramaswamy, who announced his run for Ohio governor in February, has been waging a war of public perception against New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist.

The biotech engineer and entrepreneur has often juxtaposed his campaign with Mamdani’s. “Vivek Super PAC — Victors, not Victims” even bought an advertisement in Times Square featuring Mamdani that sported the tagline, “Ready to flee NYC? Move to Ohio!”

Ramaswamy was not the only one to recognize the significance of Mamdani’s possible victory in New York City.

“The fate of D.S.A. and honestly, I think, the progressive movement in New York, is tied to Zohran’s administration, and we’re aware of that,” Grace Mausser, co-chairwoman of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, said in an interview with The New York Times. “So the No. 1 goal for D.S.A., and I hope a coherent left as we move forward, is to make that administration successful.”

Ramaswamy’s move to brand himself as a freedom protector in the face of self-proclaimed Democratic Socialists comes as many young New York Democrats have been calling for more progressive candidates, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

“There’s a deep fissure in the Democratic Party where a lot of their base is, unfortunately, is in electing socialism over capitalism,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy pointed out that Mamdani is not a one-off example of popular, young Democratic Socialists. Soon after Mamdani’s sweeping victory in New York’s Democratic primary in July, Minnesota State Senator Omar Fateh (D) announced that he was running for Minneapolis mayor with a platform featuring many socialist ideas.

Fateh, 35, plans to introduce rent stabilization in Minneapolis if elected mayor, as well as strengthen the city’s sanctuary city policies and reduce police involvement in the community.

“My advice to Republicans across the country is this is our chance to actually offer an alternative vision– to make the case why free enterprise, why capitalism, is the best system known to the history of man,” Ramaswamy said.

“This is a special opportunity for us as Republicans to really show not just what we’re against, but what do we actually stand for,” Ramaswamy added.

Ramaswamy plans to hold a town hall Monday evening in response to the violent fight that occurred in Cincinnati in July, where he will likely touch on the rise of Democratic Socialists like Mamdani.