Trump rallies 3,000 in Chillicothe to back Husted, Ramaswamy

More than 3,000 people packed the Shoemaker Center in Chillicothe on Wednesday to hear President Donald Trump speak. Hundreds of additional supporters watched from screens outside the venue. The rally marked the president's third appearance in Ohio ahead of the midterm elections. It focused on boosting the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and Governor Vivek Ramaswamy.

Trump spent the evening criticizing his political opponents. He directed much of his fire at former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic challenger in the Senate race. The Cook Political Report rates that contest as a toss-up. Trump claimed Ohio voters rejected Brown in a landslide, although Husted currently refers to Brown as the incumbent in his own remarks. Husted argued that Brown has served for over 50 years without delivering tangible improvements to residents' lives.

The governor's race also dominated the speech. Trump defended Ramaswamy's campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur. Acton is the Democratic candidate for governor. Court records show Acton was truthful about her childhood homelessness, contrary to claims in the ad. Trump called the media criticism of the ad unfair. Ramaswamy, who spoke at the event, attacked Acton for her role as health director during the early pandemic. He accused her of shutting down the economy and public schools, leading to significant learning loss in the state.

Local economic issues surfaced during the event. U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno spoke about the Pixelle paper mill in Chillicothe. The facility shut down last year, affecting roughly 800 employees. Moreno promised to revitalize the paper manufacturing section of the plant. He claimed that new tenants would restore jobs. Trump also highlighted recent economic wins in Ohio, citing a new Bayer facility in New Albany. He promised to consider bringing the U.S. Space Academy to the state if Husted wins the Senate seat.

The rally contrasted with a press conference held by Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney earlier in the day. Feeney, a Democrat, criticized the presidential visit near the Ross County Courthouse. He described Trump's presence as a last-ditch effort by Republicans. Feeney noted that while Moreno brought new tenants to the Pixelle site, many former workers have not been rehired. Dee Collins, a laid-off employee, spoke at Feeney's event. She said fewer than one in ten displaced workers found new jobs with the incoming companies. She described the current situation as a collection of empty promises.

Voting was underway in Ross County while the rally took place. The Board of Elections reported a steady stream of early voters. According to the Ohio Secretary of State, more than 6,000 people had cast early in-person ballots statewide. Another 2,000 had submitted mail-in ballots. Ross County has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1996. In the last midterm, the county supported U.S. Sen. JD Vance with more than 65% of the vote.

Trump also addressed national politics during his speech. He attacked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, suggesting he should face execution. He referenced investigations into fraud in Minnesota's nutrition and Medicaid programs. He also targeted Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola, citing reports that her campaign worked with a fellow nominee to influence the ballot. The crowd chanted lock them up multiple times during these remarks.

The event featured several Ohio state officials. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Auditor Keith Faber, and Treasurer Robert Sprague all addressed the crowd. LaRose is running for auditor, Faber for attorney general, and Sprague for secretary of state. Jay Edwards, the candidate for treasurer, also spoke. U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, who represents Chillicothe, was the only member of Congress to take the podium. Trump left the stage briefly after discussing exports, then returned to the podium. He joked that he had confused the Secret Service by appearing to exit early.