🔥 OHIO’S UNDERDOG RISING: WHO IS CASEY PUTSCH — THE GOP CHALLENGER TAKING ON VIVEK RAMASWAMY?.c1

Casey Putsch, a Tiffin native and Perrysburg resident, burst onto the Ohio political scene in late 2025 when he announced his campaign to become governor, challenging billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy in the Republican primary. Putsch describes himself as an automotive entrepreneur, a founder of a nonprofit educational program called Genius Garage, and a working-class voice in contrast to what he sees as Ramaswamy’s elite establishment ties.

Putsch grew up building and designing cars and later created Genius Garage to help students build and restore vehicles — a practical leadership experience he now says informs his approach to government and community problem-solving. He graduated from Ohio State University and lives with his wife, daughter, and another child on the way.

Rather than professional politics, his background is rooted in small business and grassroots educational work — something he argues gives him an advantage in understanding the real needs of everyday Ohioans.

At the core of the Putsch campaign is his slogan: “Saving Ohio.” According to Putsch, that phrase reflects a broader critique of current political leadership — Republican or otherwise — that he says has prioritized moneyed corporate interests and wealthy elites over working-class families and small business owners.

Putsch has not held elected office before, but he asserts he’s running because he believes the state is “going down the wrong path.” He criticizes Ramaswamy — who entered the governor’s race after a high-profile national political profile and a successful endorsement from former President Donald Trump — as a candidate who “cares about his own self-interest versus anybody else’s.”

In Putsch’s telling, Ramaswamy’s billionaire status and national ambitions do not translate into meaningful service for Ohio. He argues that Ramaswamy’s priorities — including technology and global business interests — distance him from the everyday challenges of Ohio families, communities, and local businesses.

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