In Columbus, Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy recently launched his gubernatorial campaign, and before long, former President Donald Trump had already endorsed him. Trump’s endorsement, shared on his Truth Social platform, praised Ramaswamy, a business mogul from Cincinnati and former co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, as a “special” candidate. Highlighting Ramaswamy’s qualities, Trump described him as “Young, Strong, and Smart” and assured that he would make a great Governor of Ohio, promising his full support.
Ohio’s political circles were intrigued by the timing of Trump’s endorsement. In recent years, Trump’s endorsements have shifted from being announced just before elections to well in advance, as evident with this early support for Ramaswamy. Robert Clegg, a seasoned Republican campaign adviser in Ohio, speculated that the endorsement might be a signal to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who is seeking the Republican nomination, or perhaps to Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a renowned former Ohio State Buckeyes coach whose future political plans are yet to be seen.
“This is very early,” remarked Clegg, noting his expectations of a later endorsement. He speculated that Trump might want to avoid a contentious primary in Ohio. In the 2022 U.S. Senate primary, Trump’s late endorsement of JD Vance propelled him to victory. The following year, Trump endorsed Bernie Moreno for Senate three months before the primary, and Moreno secured both the primary and general election wins. Now, with Ramaswamy, Trump has made his decision known even earlier.
Trump’s endorsement is anticipated to provide a significant boost to Ramaswamy’s campaign, countering concerns about his lack of governmental experience in Ohio, a Trump-strong state. Prior to Trump’s announcement, Ramaswamy, who previously ran for President unsuccessfully, had secured the help of key advisors who had aided Vance’s 2022 campaign, along with endorsements from notable conservatives like Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.
However, Trump’s track record with gubernatorial endorsements has been hit or miss. His endorsement aided Greg Abbott’s victory in Texas in 2018, while Scott Walker in Wisconsin was not as fortunate. In 2022, Trump’s endorsement helped Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Arkansas, but not Kari Lake in Arizona.
Ohio Tea Party leader Tom Zawistowski suggested that Trump’s backing of Ramaswamy may have influenced Ohio’s Lt. Gov., Jon Husted, to accept an appointment to Vance’s old Senate seat, seeing the competition as formidable due to Trump’s endorsement and Ramaswamy’s funding. “Jon Husted couldn’t defend against a Trump endorsement and such a well-funded rival,” Zawistowski claimed. He speculated that Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Tressel to set up a potential establishment Republican candidate should Yost falter by summer.
Dave Yost criticized Ramaswamy, branding him inconsistent. “I welcome Mr. Ramaswamy to the race for as long as he lasts,” Yost stated, citing Ramaswamy’s past moves as evidence of instability. Meanwhile, the pro-Yost super PAC, Buckeye Freedom Fund, sent attack ads against Ramaswamy, accusing him of alignment with Biden on military transgender policies, a point Ramaswamy’s campaign rebuffed, emphasizing strong endorsements from numerous conservative figures.
Zawistowski described Tressel as an “institutionalist,” capable of mobilizing large funds from supporters across Ohio State’s extensive network, known as Buckeye Nation. While Trump and Musk enjoy considerable support among the state’s MAGA base, Zawistowski warned of the potential for establishment Republicans and Democrats to redirect support towards Tressel in the GOP primary, a scenario Trump likely anticipates in his quick endorsement of Ramaswamy.
