On Saturday, Jon Gruden, the ex-NFL head coach, addressed a Donald Trump gathering in Vandalia, Ohio. During the event, he encouraged attendees to cast their ballots for Senator Jon Husted in a closely contested special election. Speaking from the stage at Vandalia-Butler High School, Gruden explained that his roots in the state were the driving force behind his return. He remarked, "My Mom and Dad are from Cleveland, I was born in Sandusky, and I went to the University of Dayton, and I'm damn proud of it, man," as reported by the Washington Examiner. Gruden appeared alongside Trump to support his former Dayton teammate Husted. This appearance was included in Trump's pre-midterm tour, which also included stops in Alabama and Oklahoma this week.
Husted and Gruden were teammates on the Dayton football squad. Gruden pointed out Husted's athletic history, noting he recorded 17 interceptions during his gridiron career. He added, "He will never quit on you or anybody," according to the Daily Wire. Trump quipped that he was unaware of Husted's football background until Gruden brought it up. "Nobody told me you were a great athlete," Trump said, per the Daily Wire. Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor, also addressed the crowd. He is currently competing against Democrat Amy Acton for the Ohio governorship.
Since Trump assumed office in January 2025, the rally has centered on investment prospects and manufacturing growth. Trump addressed the need for infrastructure and funding related to power generation. He commended legislation introduced by Husted designed to prevent data centers from increasing utility rates. "Now your great Senator… introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent data centers from raising electricity costs and require them to pay their own way, it's very good," Trump stated, citing the Washington Examiner. He asserted that nearly every Dumocrat in the Senate voted to obstruct the bill. To be precise and honest, Trump noted that the opposition likely stemmed from the fact that he and his team wanted the measure passed.
When Vice President JD Vance vacated the seat, Husted was appointed to fill it in January 2025. A fierce special election now sees him competing against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown. Brown previously lost Ohio's other Senate seat to Senator Bernie Moreno in 2024. On Saturday, Brown's campaign operated a mobile billboard throughout Dayton. The display accused Husted of causing rising gas prices linked to the war in Iran. Gruden, who resigned from his role as Las Vegas Raiders coach in October 2021, made this uncommon appearance in the electoral arena.
Gruden stressed the critical nature of the upcoming vote for Ohio residents. He informed the audience that early voting commences on Tuesday. He encouraged supporters to inform their neighbors. "Get your friends and get their friends and their friends and let's get Husted back in action," Gruden stated, per the Daily Wire. He observed that Husted's dedication and work ethic translated well into his public service. During the address, Trump referred to Gruden as "one of my favorite coaches in the whole world" and "a winner." Trump connected the rally to the sport by mentioning Ohio State's win over Iowa earlier that day.
Early voting for this Ohio special election begins on Tuesday. Husted needs to gather sufficient votes to secure the seat ahead of the general election. Both Trump and Gruden have requested that voters turn out to support the ticket. The campaign intends to continue advocating for Husted in the final stretch. "Before you know it, this election is over, yes," Trump said. "It's over. But what we got to do is we got to do our part. Early voting starts Tuesday. Can we be there or not?" according to the Daily Wire. The outcome will decide who occupies the vacancy left by Vance.