4-12-2026 6:57pm

Warren County GOP Lincoln Reagan Dinner Celebrates America and Encourages Unity

Beth Callahan Editor

Story and photos by Holly Lamb

MASON, OH -- It was a packed house for Warren County's Lincoln Reagan Dinner on April 10th. Tickets were sold out. The entrance of Great Wolf Lodge featured a display of Leutze's George Washington Crossing the Delaware. A couple costumed with revolutionary ensembles greeted the entrance. The ball room was adorned with the stars and stripes. The guest mingled; wearing their best red and white and blue, while the band played triumphal in the background. The scene was set to rally for the night's candidates.

Mehek Cooke, republican lawyer and consultant often featured on Fox News, started off the night focusing on government abuse of tax dollars. She echoed the national conversation about daycare fraud, claiming nearly 80% of daycares in central Ohio were fake. Cooke sternly informed the crowd in order to beat the democrats, which were going to spend millions in dollars in a pinpoint strategy just for Ohio, the Republican Party must stay united. Her plea stated what would be the theme for the night; remain of a like mind or Ohio will never be the same.

Zac Haines, candidate for State Senate who fittingly for the evening is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, reminded the crowd of what was the 2020 lockdown culture spear headed by Amy Acton current Democratic candidate front runner for Ohio governor. Would Ohio have a governor in support of liberty or lockdowns, he questioned.

Keynote speaker Vivek Ramaswamy, republican party backed candidate for Ohio Governor, focused on the stark contrast between himself and Acton. Seeing himself as what could be the most conservative governor in the state’s history, he wants Ohio to "build wealth without apologizing for it" and to "become a state Texas and Florida look up to." This would never be possible with what he calls the socialist Acton as governor. While giving credit to the state of Ohio in providing him the opportunity to achieve success, he ensured the crowd it would not be possible without continuing to have free speech and open debate, which gave him a resounding round of applause. Ramaswamy went on to expound on the American Dream concept and how it leads to what he calls American Exceptionalism. Ramaswamy discussed the numerous blessings he had received in his personal life and feels it is his "moral duty" to pass them on to future generations. The biggest risk to this election is complacency, he says. If he loses, he will be fine. But, he questioned, will Ohio?.

Steven Erbeck, congressional candidate, highlighted his own conservative values and his families' generational ties to the area. His grandfather was the first dentist in Mason.

A crowd favorite, Vice President J.D. Vance's mother Beverly Vance didn't get into political specifics, but she did encourage "the spirit of togetherness to strengthen the party" echoing the idea that there seemed to be some sort of unspoken unrest amongst the GOP.

Comedian, conservative activist, and Trump impersonator Shawn Farash drew many a laugh from the crowd. He recounted his rise to fame and the importance of banding together and doing boots on the ground work, like door knocking, to get conservative candidates in office.

The night ended with highly esteemed featured speaker Anthony Munoz encouraging the crowd to "never forget where you come from and to build the foundation to fight for the things you want."

The attending speakers pleas for party unity seemed especially prescient as Republican Party Chairman Christian Mays made this statement on the official Facebook page of the Warren County Republican Party ... "the Warren County Republican Party has issued one official slate card, reflecting the candidates endorsed through our established party process. The party does not authorize or condone distributing materials alongside the slate card that contradict our endorsed candiadtes."

Mays made this statement in regards to online scuttlebutt referencing unauthorized republican slate cards being distributed by a volunteer that had signed up via an online form.