Ramaswamy Suggests Renaming Great Lakes Amid Ohio Campaign

Toledo, Ohio — During a campaign event in Toledo last week, Vivek Ramaswamy proposed a controversial idea: renaming one of the Great Lakes. The statement came as the Republican gubernatorial candidate touted Ohio’s geographic advantages and its proximity to Lake Erie.

Speaking to supporters, Ramaswamy referenced former President Donald Trump’s recent decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America.’ “I like what President Trump’s done with the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of America,” Ramaswamy said. “Anybody think if there’s a Lake Michigan, maybe there should be a Lake Ohio around here? I’m feeling that, so we’ll talk about that a little bit more as this campaign progresses.”

Despite the apparent levity of his comments, the response from his campaign team was swift. A spokesperson clarified on Monday, “The audience understood it was a joke. Perhaps the media will someday get a sense of humor. Vivek is focused on real policies to Make Ohio Great Again.”

The Great Lakes, consisting of Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior,derive their names from both French explorers and Indigenous peoples of the region. Notably, the name ‘Michigan’ originates from an Algonquin word meaning ‘great water,’ whereas ‘Ohio’ comes from the Iroquois term for ‘beautiful river,’ named after the river that borders the state.

In Ohio’s gubernatorial race, Ramaswamy is competing against Attorney General Dave Yost for the opportunity to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine in 2026. So far, the only Democrat in the race is former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton. Acton stated, “As I travel across the state, it’s clear from my conversations with so many Ohioans that we should be focused on helping those who are struggling with the cost of living, working to ensure our public schools are funded and keeping our communities safe.”

Haley BeMiller covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, contributing to various publications including the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, and Akron Beacon Journal. This report has been updated to include additional context.