COLUMBUS, Ohio — Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican and biotech entrepreneur, is gearing up to announce his candidacy for the 2026 Ohio governor’s race on February 24 in Cincinnati, where he was born and raised. Following this kickoff, he plans additional campaign events over the subsequent two days in Columbus, Toledo, and Cleveland.
Ramaswamy, who previously pursued the 2024 presidential nomination and recently stepped away from a government initiative under former President Donald Trump, will launch his campaign at CTL Aerospace Inc. in Cincinnati. Later that same day, he will visit New Albany, just outside Columbus, to make remarks at Axium Packaging. These details were confirmed by an insider who requested anonymity due to the unpublished nature of the schedule.
On February 25, Ramaswamy’s itinerary includes appearances at Glass City Center in Toledo and The Local Bar in Strongsville, which is located near Cleveland. He is entering a Republican primary race to succeed the term-limited current governor, Mike DeWine. The contest is already heating up with competitors including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Heather Hill, a former member of the Martin Luther King Commission in Ohio. Previously considered a frontrunner, former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted exited the race last month due to his recent appointment to a U.S. Senate seat that was previously occupied by Vice President JD Vance, a long-time associate of Ramaswamy from their days at Yale Law School.
On the Democratic side, former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is in the running for the governor’s seat. As Ramaswamy works to address the perception of his limited political experience, he has garnered endorsements from two current Republican statewide officials: Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Treasurer Robert Sprague.
According to the campaign source, Ramaswamy also has plans to address 30 county Republican dinners throughout this spring, with the events scheduled from March 3 to May 22. This ambitious outreach effort is aimed at solidifying support as he moves forward in his campaign for the governor’s office.
