Flee Zohran, Find Freedom in Ohio’: Vivek Ramaswamy’s Super PAC Launches Provocative Times Square Billboard

By: Arthur Popowitz

In a bold political gambit that merges pop culture spectacle with pointed partisan messaging, a new digital billboard set to debut Monday in Times Square urges disenchanted New Yorkers to “flee” socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani — and resettle in Ohio. As The New York Post has exclusively learned, the ad is funded by the “Vivek Super PAC — Victors, not Victims” (VPAC), the political action committee backing Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

An ad in Times Square offers NYC residents their choice of Indian occupation between Zohran Mamdani and Vivek Ramaswamy.

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The eye-catching, $50,000 billboard campaign plants itself in the heart of Manhattan’s tourist mecca, a direct challenge to Mamdani’s ascendancy as the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. The New York Post reported on Sunday that the campaign is not merely a political shot across the bow but a reflection of what VPAC strategists see as a battle for America’s political soul.

“Worried About Zohran? Ohio Is Waiting For You!” the billboard declares in bold type, juxtaposing two political newcomers of Indian descent who represent starkly divergent visions for America’s future.

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, the billboard is designed to amplify the contrast between Mamdani, a 33-year-old socialist who stunned political observers with his upset victory in last month’s Democratic primary, and Ramaswamy, the 39-year-old conservative entrepreneur turned political contender who aims to redefine Republican leadership in the Buckeye State.

“We put this billboard up because we couldn’t think of two politicians in the country that represent such wildly different paths for the future of our nation,” Andy Surabian, chief strategist for VPAC, told The New York Post. “The Mamdani path of socialist totalitarianism versus the Vivek path of American freedo

Surabian didn’t mince words, painting a dystopian picture of Mamdani’s prospective leadership. “While Mamdani will further crush New York City with his job-killing socialist tyranny, Vivek is ready to unleash freedom, supercharge the American dream, and make Ohio a state of excellence,” he said.

The underlying message, as framed by The New York Post, is clear: For New Yorkers weary of progressive governance and economic uncertainty, Ohio — with its conservative tilt and lower cost of living — offers a haven of liberty and opportunity.

Despite its aggressive pitch, The New York Post report noted that Ohio isn’t exactly a top destination for New Yorkers fleeing the Empire State. Census Bureau data from 2022 places Ohio only 20th among the states receiving outbound New Yorkers, a statistic that tempers the billboard’s invitation with a dose of demographic reality.

Nevertheless, Surabian remains undeterred. “For those New Yorkers who have had enough, freedom and prosperity are waiting for you in Ohio,” he told The New York Post, positioning the Midwestern state as the heartland’s answer to coastal disillusionment.

Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and political outsider, burst onto the national stage during the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, where he briefly surged to third place in polls dominated by President Donald Trump. As The New York Post report said, his unapologetically populist rhetoric and outsider credentials resonated with a segment of GOP voters hungry for new leadership.

With his presidential bid behind him, Ramaswamy has set his sights on the Ohio governor’s mansion in the 2026 election — a race where, according to an April survey cited by The New York Post, he commands a commanding 50-point lead over his Republican rivals.

VPAC, flush with $17 million in funding, is banking on Ramaswamy’s ability to translate his national profile into statewide dominance. As The New York Post report emphasized, the Times Square ad is both a direct assault on Mamdani and a savvy move to elevate Ramaswamy’s profile in the broader national conversation.

Placing the billboard in Times Square — arguably the most recognizable intersection in the world — is no accident. Times Square serves as a symbolic stage where politics meets pop culture, amplifying messages beyond the typical echo chambers of political discourse.

By choosing this location, VPAC has ensured maximum visibility, not just among New Yorkers but among the millions of tourists and social media users who engage with the vibrant visual landscape of Times Square. The billboard is scheduled to remain on display all week, providing ample fodder for pundits, political observers, and passersby alike.

As of press time, Mamdani’s campaign has not responded to inquiries from The New York Post regarding the billboard. Whether the socialist mayoral frontrunner will address the jab remains to be seen, but his silence could signal a strategic choice to avoid amplifying an opponent’s message — or a reluctance to engage with a conservative attack that some might view as a publicity stunt.

The Times Square billboard, while cheeky in tone, speaks to deeper currents shaping American politics. As The New York Post report analyzed, it taps into a growing divide between progressive urban governance and conservative visions of American renewal championed in states like Ohio.

It also highlights how political action committees are increasingly turning to unconventional tactics — blending high-visibility marketing with pointed political messaging — to sway public opinion in an age of fractured media consumption.

For Ramaswamy, the campaign serves as both a fundraising tool and a branding exercise, positioning him as a national figure unafraid to take on high-profile left-wing leaders, even outside his own state.

In the clash between Zohran Mamdani’s progressive vision for New York City and Vivek Ramaswamy’s conservative blueprint for Ohio, The New York Post report suggested that the stakes transcend mere political rivalry. They encapsulate a broader battle over the direction of the country — a contest between two competing ideals of governance, prosperity, and freedom.

Whether the billboard drives disillusioned New Yorkers to the heartland or merely stirs debate remains to be seen. Its symbolism is unmistakable: in the theater of American politics, every billboard, every slogan, and every public statement is part of a larger narrative — one that, in this case, casts Ohio as the sanctuary for those seeking relief from New York’s progressive tide.