In Columbus, Ohio, an intriguing political development took place earlier this week when Republican Vivek Ramaswamy announced his bid for the state’s gubernatorial position. Before the announcement festivities had concluded, former President Donald Trump expressed his endorsement of Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur from Cincinnati and former co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency.
On his platform, Truth Social, Trump praised Ramaswamy as “something SPECIAL,” describing him as “Young, Strong, and Smart!” He emphasized Ramaswamy’s love for the country and assured that he would be a “GREAT Governor of Ohio,” pledging his complete support.
Political analysts in Ohio took note of the timing of Trump’s endorsement, which arrived more than a year before the election. This raised eyebrows, considering Trump’s past approach in Ohio’s significant state races. Republican strategist Robert Clegg suggested that Trump’s early backing might be a strategic move to send a message to other potential contenders, such as Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and newly-appointed Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel.
Clegg noted, “This is awfully early in the game, and I expected an endorsement maybe later this year.” He speculated whether Trump was aiming to prevent a contentious primary battle in Ohio. In the 2022 U.S. Senate primary in Ohio, Trump delayed his endorsement until less than three weeks before the election, which played a critical role in JD Vance’s victory in both the primary and the general election.
At this juncture, Trump’s endorsement arrived without delay. It is expected to bolster Ramaswamy’s campaign as he navigates skepticism about his limited experience in holding statewide office. Ohio has consistently supported Trump in the past three presidential elections. Before Ramaswamy’s announcement, he secured the support of political advisers who had previously aided Vance in his successful 2022 Senate campaign. He also gained endorsements from prominent conservatives, including Utah Senator Mike Lee.
However, Trump’s influence in gubernatorial races has yielded varied outcomes. His backing helped propel Texas’s Greg Abbott and Arkansas’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders to victories but was not as effective for Wisconsin’s Scott Walker and Arizona’s Kari Lake.
Tom Zawistowski, a figure in Ohio’s tea party movement, speculated that Trump’s anticipated endorsement of Ramaswamy prompted then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to accept an appointment to the U.S. Senate. Zawistowski suggested that Husted couldn’t compete against a Trump-endorsed candidate with substantial financial backing like Ramaswamy.
He added that Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine may have appointed Jim Tressel as a backup plan. Tressel, a well-liked former Ohio State Buckeyes football coach, might run as an establishment Republican if Yost’s campaign loses momentum.
Yost, who is currently term-limited, responded to Ramaswamy’s candidacy by questioning his reliability. He issued a statement welcoming Ramaswamy’s entry into the race, albeit skeptically. Simultaneously, the Buckeye Freedom Fund, a super PAC supporting Yost, launched a campaign accusing Ramaswamy of past actions inconsistent with Trump’s views, including a controversial stance on allowing transgender individuals in the military. Ramaswamy’s campaign countered these claims, noting that with endorsements from Trump and other conservative leaders, opposition campaigns are left to resort to misrepresentations.
Zawistowski described Tressel as an “institutionalist” with the potential to draw substantial financial support from the extensive Ohio State alumni and fan base. He surmised that while Trump’s base is engaged, there is a risk that moderates and Democrats could support Tressel in the forthcoming Republican primary. This concern, he suggested, could explain Trump’s swift endorsement of Ramaswamy.
