CIRCLEVILLE, OH – The Pickaway County Fairgrounds played host to the annual Pickaway County Lincoln Day Dinner on April 1, 2025, featuring gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as the keynote speaker. The event also saw the presentation of the inaugural “Lincoln Founder Award” to longtime Republican and former Pickaway County Republican Party Chair, Michael Whitten.
Ramaswamy, who is campaigning for Ohio Governor, addressed the gathering of local Republicans, outlining his vision for the state and his platform. His speech focused on making Ohio great again, DEI removal, and Ramaswamy wanting Ohio to be a US leader in AI, Bitcoin, and manufacturing. watch the video below for his speech.
“The energy is undeniable,” said Pickaway County Chair Travis Ricketts, “We are getting redder every election cycle. Candidates know that Pickaway County is the place to come to. We’re within striking distance of three big population centers, and we’re just expecting better things to come. We sold out this event last week, there are 450 people here tonight, we’re the largest Lincoln day so far south of Franklin County. Pickaway County successes are undeniable, with the election of Sarah Turner as reporter, every executive-level, elected countywide person in the county is Republican for the first time in living memory. There’s still a lot of work to do. We still have Democrats as judges, school boards, local officials that are pushing policies that we don’t agree with, so we’re still organizing, and we’re gonna be pushing hard, and that’s the future. That’s the future is awesome.”
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the “Lincoln Founder Award” to Michael Whitten. This newly created award recognizes a Pickaway County citizen who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership within the Republican Party. Whitten, a prominent figure in local Republican politics, was lauded for his years of service and contributions to the party.
“The ‘Lincoln Founder Award’ is a testament to the dedication and hard work of individuals like Michael Whitten,” said Travis Ricketts, Chair of Republican Party. “His commitment to the Republican Party and to Pickaway County has been invaluable.”
The Lincoln Day Dinner is an annual event held by Republican parties across the country, celebrating the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln and providing an opportunity for party members to gather and hear from prominent speakers. The Pickaway County event brought together local Republicans to celebrate their party’s values and to hear from a candidate vying for the state’s highest office.
