New York — A new billboard in Times Square is making waves for telling New Yorkers to escape “radical socialist” politics by moving to Ohio—home of Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The high-profile ad targets Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin Democrat who recently won the New York City mayoral primary, and promotes Ramaswamy as his conservative alternative.
The billboard, which reportedly cost $50,000, was funded by VPAC (Vivek Super PAC – “Victors, not Victims”), a group supporting Ramaswamy’s campaign in Ohio. Displayed in one of the world’s busiest pedestrian hubs, the digital ad reads: “Ready To Flee NYC? Move To Ohio”—drawing a sharp contrast between Mamdani’s progressive agenda and Ramaswamy’s right-leaning platform.
Ramaswamy, 39, shared the ad on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Capitalism defeats socialism. There’s a better way: move to Ohio.”
Mamdani, 33, and Ramaswamy—both of Indian heritage—are considered rising stars in their respective parties, with Mamdani appealing to New York’s progressive base and Ramaswamy positioning himself as a bold conservative reformer in the Midwest.
VPAC’s chief strategist Andy Surabian told the New York Post that the billboard is aimed at New Yorkers disillusioned by Mamdani’s policies, urging them to consider Ohio, a state he claims is “about to elect a conservative trailblazer committed to liberty and prosperity for all.”
Surabian warned that Mamdani’s victory would bring “job-killing socialist tyranny” to New York, while Ramaswamy’s leadership would “supercharge the American dream” in Ohio. He called the billboard a symbolic battle between “Mamdani’s path of socialist totalitarianism” and “Vivek’s path of American freedom.”
The Mamdani campaign has not publicly responded to the ad.
The billboard also follows recent remarks by Ramaswamy criticizing some on the political right for attacking Indian-American public figures, including Mamdani and Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance. “It’s a shame to watch the race-obsessed fringe of the right try to outdo the race-obsessed woke left,” Ramaswamy posted on X earlier this month.
The Times Square ad is expected to remain up throughout the week.
