Ohio Restaurant Faces Backlash After Hosting Vivek Ramaswamy on Midterms Trail

P.J. Marley’s, a restaurant in Medina, Ohio, is grappling with negative reactions after hosting Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during his midterm campaign stop on October 31. The decision to welcome Ramaswamy came amid controversy surrounding his campaign’s attack ad, which became a focal point in the gubernatorial race.

Controversy Surrounding Ramaswamy’s Campaign Ad

Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign ran a contentious attack ad targeting his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, by featuring her estranged mother, Donna Arthur. The ad highlighted Arthur siding with her late husband—who sexually abused Acton as a child—while labeling Acton a “liar.” The ad drew bipartisan criticism, including from Republicans who warned it could harm Ramaswamy’s chances in the election.

Despite the backlash, Ramaswamy’s campaign scheduled a stop at P.J. Marley’s in Medina on October 31. Restaurant owners Patty and Jon Stahl, who identify as small-business Republicans, said the visit was planned before the ad’s release. Although they found the ad distasteful, they hoped Ramaswamy would deliver on campaign promises like lowering property taxes and reducing rising electric costs.

Customer and Community Reaction

Following the announcement of Ramaswamy’s visit, P.J. Marley’s experienced a surge of aggressive phone calls and dozens of negative social media reviews. Customers left comments accusing the restaurant of supporting pedophiles and engaging in “MAGA behavior.” Some Facebook reviews stated:

• “Makes me sad that they are complicit of MAGA behavior.”
• “They love supporting candidates who use child s*xual abuse against the victim.”
• “Never dining there, vile pedophile supporters.”
• “PJ Marley’s has great food, which makes this all the more disappointing.”

In response to the backlash, the Stahls began deleting negative comments on their Facebook page but stood by their decision to host Ramaswamy. Jon Stahl told The New York Times, “People were saying, ‘Oh, you’re giving Vivek a platform.’ I looked at it as he was giving us a platform.”

Protests and Staff Harassment

County Democrats organized a protest outside P.J. Marley’s on the day of Ramaswamy’s visit. Demonstrators reportedly yelled at customers entering the restaurant, with one protester, Kellie Biegel, shouting, “There they are, pedophile supporters!” Bartender Anthony Buchanan recounted that a protester shouted at him, “How can you work for them?” Buchanan, who is also a third-grade teacher working two jobs, chose not to respond, saying, “I’m just trying to get my money.”

Election Outcome and Political Impact

Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio gubernatorial race with 52.3 percent of the vote to Ramaswamy’s 44.4 percent, ending 16 years of Republican leadership in the state. Acton became the first woman elected governor in Ohio and reportedly did not answer Ramaswamy’s concession call on Election Night. Ramaswamy stated, “We left her a message. It’s a tough night for us here in Ohio.”

The experience has left P.J. Marley’s navigating the fallout of political polarization and community division after a campaign stop that brought national attention to their local business.