A group, “Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio,” filed paperwork Friday suggesting the former 2024 Republican presidential candidate will run in the campaign to be elected Ohio’s next governor in 2026.
The group affiliated with Ramaswamy, 39, filed the paperwork with the office of Ohio’s secretary of state, Frank LaRose. Ramaswamy is expected to launch his campaign Feb. 24, 2025 at the aerospace company CTL Aerospace, Inc. in his native Cincinnati. He will then speak at Axium Packaging in New Albany, the Glass City Center in Toledo and The Local Bar in the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville, The Associated Press (AP) reported, citing an anonymous source.
“Big announcement in Ohio coming on Feb 24. It won’t be your usual gubernatorial dog-and-pony show,” Ramaswamy told the New York Post on Saturday.
Ramaswamy will reportedly vie for the Republican Party’s ticket, challenging Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and one of Ohio’s former Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission members, Heather Hill, after former Ohio Lt. Gov. and perceived gubernatorial campaign frontrunner Jon Husted dropped out to replace Vice President J.D. Vance as one of the Buckeye State’s senators.
Survey firm Fabrizio, Lee & Associates polled 600 likely voters in January 2025 and found Ramaswamy leads Yost in the race to be the Republican gubernatorial nominee with 52‐18 percentage points, Axios reported. Another survey firm, WPA Intelligence, polled 600 likely Republican primary voters in Ohio in January 2025 and found Ramaswamy drew 57 percent support, compared to Yost’s 26 percent, Newsweek reported.
Term-limited Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had discussed with Ramaswamy potentially naming him to fill Vance’s Senate seat but later opted for Husted, calling him a “workhorse” who “knew Ohio,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
Both Ramaswamy and Vance are Yale Law School alumni. Before entering politics, Ramaswamy was a biotechnology entrepreneur. He backed Trump after dropping his 2024 presidential campaign and was named to co-lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with X owner Elon Musk. Ramaswamy, however, departed the role on Inauguration Day, saying he had “future plans in Ohio.” (RELATED: Vivek Ramaswamy Confirms He’s Leaving DOGE, Teases ‘Future Plans’ In Ohio)
The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee. The first Democrat to launch a 2026 gubernatorial bid is former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, AP reported. Acton, however, might not be the only Democratic candidate, according to Cleveland.com.
Acton and any other Democrat will enter the race for the Statehouse as underdogs — Ohio has had four successive Republican governors, the outlet reported.
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