Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential contender, has shown enthusiasm for the recently vacated U.S. Senate seat in Ohio that will be left by Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to sources familiar with the biotech entrepreneur’s intentions.
At 39 years old and hailing from Cincinnati, Ramaswamy had initially considered running for the governor position in Ohio for the 2026 election. He had also explored the possibility of expanding his policy experience by collaborating with billionaire Elon Musk on a private initiative aimed at reducing federal government spending, regulatory measures, and workforce size. However, recent discussions with President-elect Donald Trump seem to have shifted Ramaswamy’s focus towards the Senate seat.
One insider noted that Trump approached Ramaswamy with the idea of him taking over the Senate role. This suggestion aligns with Trump’s ongoing agenda of streamlining the federal government bureaucracy. The individuals who provided insight into Ramaswamy’s aspirations spoke on the condition of anonymity, as these discussions were meant to be private.
No immediate comment has been made by Trump’s transition team regarding these developments. The responsibility of appointing a new senator falls to Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who will select a successor to Vance. Vance is set to be sworn in as Trump’s vice president following his election to the Senate in 2022.
The appointed individual will serve until December 2026 and will need to participate in another election for the remainder of the Senate term in November 2026. “Neither Governor DeWine nor our office has commented on any potential candidates for the pending appointment,” stated Dan Tierney, a representative for the governor’s office.
Ramaswamy previously launched an outsider campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, ultimately suspending his run after finishing fourth in Iowa’s early caucuses. Afterwards, he endorsed Trump and actively supported his campaign, participating in various fundraising events in key states.
Although Ramaswamy had initially shown interest in the Senate position post-election, he later withdrew his name from consideration when asked to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency initiative alongside Musk aimed at significantly minimizing government size and expenses.
A spokesperson for Ramaswamy did not respond promptly to inquiries seeking comments on this matter. His renewed aspiration for the Senate seat was highlighted in a recent report by The Washington Post.
