COLUMBUS, Ohio — Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur hailing from Cincinnati, is anticipated to announce his candidacy for the position of Ohio governor on Monday.
At 39 years old, Ramaswamy will launch his campaign in Cincinnati, stepping into the 2026 Republican primary race shortly after the presumed leading candidate, former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, withdrew to take a U.S. Senate appointment.
Previously, Ramaswamy pursued the GOP nomination for president in 2024 before he exited the race to support Donald Trump, who subsequently appointed him to co-chair a government efficiency initiative alongside notable billionaire Elon Musk. Ramaswamy, who nearly qualifies as a billionaire himself, has been leveraging his connections to Trump as he gathers vital endorsements and financial backing for his gubernatorial campaign, although Trump has yet to formally endorse him.
The Republican primary is poised to be competitive as Ramaswamy vies to take over from the term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine, 78, a stalwart politician.
In January, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost declared his intention to run, and Black entrepreneur Heather Hill from Appalachia is also a contender. Additionally, former state health director Dr. Amy Acton, who played a pivotal role during Ohio’s early COVID-19 response, is running for the Democratic nomination.
The race unfolds in a state that has shifted steadily towards the Republican side in recent years, having supported Trump in three consecutive elections by margins exceeding 8 percentage points. Currently, the Republicans occupy all statewide executive posts, hold a majority on the Ohio Supreme Court, and maintain supermajorities in both legislative chambers.
Ramaswamy, who practices Hinduism, has articulated ten foundational beliefs central to his previous presidential campaign, prominently stating principles such as “God is real” and advocating for the notion that “there are two genders.” His political rise began with the release of his 2021 book, “Woke Inc: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam,” which offers a fierce critique of companies he argues exploit social justice movements for their own agendas.
In contrast to the traditional trajectory towards Ohio’s governorship, predominantly characterized by years of government service, Ramaswamy aims for a direct approach similar to Trump’s from the business sector.
This strategy has previously succeeded for political newcomers like Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, both of whom secured Senate positions with Trump’s backing in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Ramaswamy will now test this formula at a state governmental level, something not seen in recent history.
DeWine chose to overlook Ramaswamy in favor of appointing Husted to the Senate seat vacated by Vance, citing Husted’s extensive political experience. Husted’s gubernatorial campaign had already garnered substantial endorsements and contributions from affluent donors, who are now left without a clear candidate.
Yost entered the race following speculation that Ramaswamy was gearing up to run. Since then, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose have publicly endorsed Ramaswamy, indicating a shift in the political landscape as the primary season approaches.
