Vivek Ramaswamy plans to announce a run for Ohio governor "shortly," an Ohio operative familiar with Ramaswamy's thinking told Newsweek.
Newsweek reached out to Ramaswamy and the Trump transition team by email on Friday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
The term-limited DeWine will not be able to seek re-election in 2026 after serving two terms, opening up a likely bruising and costly campaign among gubernatorial hopefuls. DeWine announced his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, as the replacement to fill Vice President-elect JD Vance's U.S. Senate seat, opening up the contest to other candidates.
Five Ohio's last six governors, including DeWine, have been Republicans, making it likely that a Republican candidate will replace him in what is now a staunchly red state.
What To Know
The Ohio operative familiar with Ramaswamy's thinking and speaking on the condition of anonymity told Newsweek that his plan remains to "get accomplishments for DOGE" (the new Department of Government Efficiency that Ramswamy is co-leading with Elon Musk) and "then announce a run for governor shortly," without specifying any further details regarding a timeline.
Ramaswamy's name was mentioned during DeWine's announcement that Husted would take up the vacant U.S. Senate seat, with a reporter asking the governor if rumors of Ramaswamy seeking DeWine's job bid led DeWine to winnow down the list of potential rivals.
Husted replied: "You hear all of these names and all of these people that say they want to run for governor and say they want to be the senator, and I promise you this: Every single one of them would have accepted this appointment to the U.S. Senate, except the governor offered it to me, and so that's why you make the decision."
The New York Times reported that Ramaswamy revealed his plans to Ohio allies after learning he would not be DeWine's pick for Vance's vacant seat.
Ramaswamy came to national attention with bid for the Republican nomination in 2024, initially seeking to beat out Trump. In failing to do so, he significantly raised his profile and earned a role in the new administration.
Ramaswamy, the son of Indian Hindu immigrant parents, was born in Cincinnati. He reportedly owns a mansion in Upper Arlington, a city just northwest of Columbus, that he bought in 2021. He has an estimated net worth at least $1.1 billion, according to Forbes.
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Ramaswamy "is the true embodiment of the American Dream – and as the co-head of DOGE, he will tirelessly fight against wasteful government spending to preserve this American Dream for future generations. If Vivek decides to run for Governor of Ohio, he will have my full support!"
Brigitte Gabriel, a Trump supporter and founder of the group ACT for America, wrote on X: Jon Husted is a horrible choice to replace Senator JD Vance in Ohio. Replacing an America First Senator with the Lieutenant Governor of the biggest RINO Governor in the United States. Nope! I hope Vivek Ramaswamy primaries him in two years."
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's office referred Newsweek to today's press conference in response to a request for comment.
What Happens Next
Ramaswamy has yet to publicly confirm that he will make a bid, but he already has an idea of some of the rivals he will face once he does.
Republican candidates include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who in December 2024 announced he would seek the governor's office, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who hinted that he may seek the office as well.
Heather Brazell-Hill, a business owner and community leader, also announced her bid for the office. Hill is a former school board member in Morgan County, secretary of the Black Caucus of Ohio School Board Association and founding member of the Morgan County Habitat of Humanity.
Democratic candidates so far only include Amy Acton, the former state health director who held the office during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Axios.
About the writer
Peter Aitken is a Newsweek Politics Editor based in New York. His focus is domestic U.S. politics, but he has ... Read more