Trump rallies in Dayton, Ohio, endorsing Husted and Ramaswamy

Former President Donald Trump spoke at Vandalia‑Butler High School in Dayton, Ohio, on Oct. 3, 2026, endorsing Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

The rally is a centerpiece of an intense October blitz in which Trump plans five to seven appearances each week as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Husted is locked in a close Senate race against Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown, while Ramaswamy seeks the governor’s office in a state that has swung between parties in recent cycles.

Trump arrived in Ohio after a series of stops in Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama earlier in the week, underscoring the campaign’s strategy of targeting swing regions with high‑profile events.

“We’re going to be campaigning for a couple of very good people. Vivek [Ramaswamy], we know about,” Trump said, adding, “As you know, Senator Husted is running a race against Brown, who’s horrible. They threw him out of the Senate once before. He’s horrible, and they should have success.”

When pressed about the cost‑of‑living challenge, Trump blamed the “Dumocrats,” saying, “I inherited high costs from the Democrats or the Dumocrats, as I call them, because their policy is so bad.” He claimed the administration has reduced prices, noting that oil is now “lower than it was under the Biden administration.”

Trump also highlighted foreign policy gains, asserting that Iran is “virtually giving up any plans of a nuclear weapon” and praising the United States for preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear capability.

The former president’s remarks concluded with a pledge to continue the tour, with the next scheduled speech set for 7 p.m. ET on the same night, as the GOP seeks to translate rally enthusiasm into ballot‑box victories.