Debate Proves to be Pivotal Moment in Race for Governor

The tension in the air was palpable as the delegates of the 2025 American Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS) assembled for what was one of the biggest moments of the program: The state-level candidates debate, between the nominees for state offices, from both the Nationalist and Federalist parties.

Though nearly all the top state posts were hotly contested between the two parties, by far the one of most intrigue were the two highest offices of the state governor and his lieutenant. Gov. Candidate Dajeun Dickerson Jr. of Zulch City and Lt. Gov. Candidate Zachary May of Bishop City represented the Nationalists, while Gov. Candidate Kevin Zhu and Lt. Gov. Candidate Reece Long, both of Bishop City, sat opposite them for the Federalists.

The pre-debate poll was a source of major insight into just how close the race was between the two governor candidates and their running mates. Dickerson and May led the polling with 46.2% of the vote, while Zhu and Long held 37.1%. However, 16.7% of delegates remained undecided, practically ensuring victory for the candidate able to sway that voting bloc to their side.

That candidate turned out to be the Nationalist, Dickerson. In the exit poll, given to delegates after the debate, Dickerson and May held the vote of 64.5% of the delegates. Through his debate performance, Dickerson was able to not only get 13.5 percentage points of the undecided voters on his side, but managed to take 4.8 percentage points of those who initially backed Zhu, putting himself far in the lead.

Fifty-five point five percent of the delegates said that the character and personality of their chosen candidate was the core of their decision, and Dickerson’s confidence during his address to the assembled delegates was the catalyst for his convincing victory. Theron Christokis of Wiehe City was swayed by that very character and personality displayed on stage.

The debate was one of the pivotal moments of the 2025 ALBBS governor’s race. Dajeun Dickerson’s charisma proved to be the spark behind his convincing election victory. Dickerson’s character traits and how they emerged in his debate performance displayed the importance and power of confidence in the political arena, a theme that any delegate who aspires to achieve high offices in their professional life will be sure to take heed of.

Dickerson began the duties of ALBBS governor on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, and was formally sworn in as the 87th Governor of ALBBS that evening by the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, Sharon Kennedy.