BFA-PAC endorses Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor

Buckeye Firearms Association PAC is proud to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race.

"We've been working on elections for nearly a quarter century. And this is one of the rare times when the choice is easy, obvious, and exciting," said Dean Rieck, executive director of Buckeye Firearms Association. "Vivek is not only a supporter of the Second Amendment; he's also an outspoken champion. And I couldn't be happier with our PAC's decision to endorse him."

BFA PAC made the announcement during a special news conference at Vance Outdoors in Obetz, Ohio, on Tuesday, April 14. Ramaswamy accepted the endorsement, spoke about his respect and admiration for the Second Amendment, and then spent time on the shooting range with BFA leaders.

In announcing the endorsement, Linda Walker, BFA president and an NRA board member, praised Ramaswamy’s commitment to defending constitutional freedoms.

“We know that Vivek is a strong supporter of the Constitution," Walker said. "We look forward to working with him on issues important to gun owners, hunters, and families throughout the state. For these reasons and many more, Buckeye Firearms Association PAC enthusiastically endorses Vivek Ramaswamy for governor of Ohio.”

Ramaswamy is one of a handful of candidates for any office who has received BFA PAC's endorsement with an A+ grade (see our 2026 grades and endorsements).

He is a husband, father, and proud Cincinnati native who believes deeply in Ohio’s promise. He and his wife of 10 years, a surgeon at The Ohio State University, are raising their family in greater Columbus, and it’s their love for Ohio that fuels Vivek’s run for governor.

He is also a proud gun owner and NRA member who has for years proclaimed his unwavering support for gun rights, describing himself as a "Second Amendment absolutist." He opposes restrictions on law-abiding citizens, supports constitutional and concealed carry, opposes red flag laws, and advocates for armed security in schools.

He has even gone further, arguing correctly that law-abiding gun ownership deters violent criminals and, speaking at the NRA Leadership Forum in 2023, outlining his plan to dismantle the ATF.

Here is Ramaswamy in his own words:

There is no true freedom without the Second Amendment. China, Iran, and many other despotic nations have, on paper, the same freedoms that our Constitution guarantees, with one glaring exception: the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment is the amendment that puts the teeth into the entire Bill of Rights, and our framers knew what they were doing when they included it.

In a news release following the event, Ramaswamy said he was honored to win BFA's support.

"The right to keep and bear arms is not negotiable, and Ohio needs a governor who stands for the Second Amendment without apology," he said, adding that he would "stand shoulder to shoulder with gun owners across our state to protect the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution."

BFA PAC urges every gun owner in Ohio to vote for Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for governor and lieutenant governor in the 2026 Primary Election and then in the General Election in November.

Check out our 2026 Pro-Gun Voter Guide.