The Boston University chapter first crossed the line on September 7, reacting to reports that an armed man had charged at Acton at the Canfield Fair near Youngstown. "We unequivocally denounce this attack," the chapter wrote, announcing it would endorse Acton for governor because she is "more respectful of American cultural norms and more committed to protecting American workers from foreign competition" than Ramaswamy. It signed off with two words: "Country over Party."
On Tuesday night the chapter lit the fuse again, urging every other College Republicans chapter to do the same. "We encourage other CR Chapters (especially in Ohio) to make this endorsement," it posted, arguing that Ramaswamy "has contempt for the American values of well roundedness & joie de vivre, and he wants Ohio as a vessel for his national ambitions." "You'll live if a Dem is Governor for 4 years," the chapter added, calling out the Ohio State and Miami University chapters by name and accusing the GOP establishment of promoting "inauthentic charlatans that don't care about us."
"Endorsing a Democrat candidate for any race is grounds for expulsion from the College Republicans of America. We will not tolerate traitors or panicans."
That was the national organization's answer, posted Tuesday night — a direct warning that the Boston University chapter's charter is on the line. The chapter refused to back down. "So if we don't support candidates who think American culture is mediocre and promote the H1B replacement of American workers we're traitors?" it replied to the national account. "Also, 'panican'?? Cut the LARP bro." To a critic who called the endorsement "the literal definition of treason," the chapter answered: "Endorsing a political candidate is not 'treason' lol get over yourself."
The fight lands in the middle of one of the most watched governor's races in the country. Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur who challenged Trump in the 2024 primary before endorsing him, won Ohio's Republican primary with more than 80 percent of the vote and has the full backing of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who both campaigned for him in Youngstown on Monday. Acton, a physician who ran Ohio's health department under Governor Mike DeWine during COVID — signing the orders that closed schools and businesses across the state — is the Democratic nominee in a state Trump carried by double digits. Neither campaign has commented on the College Republicans fight. The election is November 3.
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