Vivek Ramaswamy’s Political Future Comes Into Focus, Paperwork Filed [WATCH]

Former Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has officially filed paperwork to enter the Ohio gubernatorial race.

With the filing completed, Ramaswamy is now able to begin campaign activities ahead of the 2026 election.

BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy files to run for Ohio governor. pic.twitter.com/hC3oNXOAhZ

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 16, 2025

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Ramaswamy was initially expected to take a role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump’s administration but opted to step away from the oversight body on Inauguration Day.

At the time, an announcement stated that he would instead pursue elected office.

His departure from the administration came shortly after he posted a message on X criticizing American culture.

In the post, Ramaswamy wrote, “a culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math Olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian” was one of the reasons he believed Americans were not prioritizing hard work.

The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if…

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024

While it is unclear whether the post was directly related to his decision to leave the administration, the comments sparked mixed reactions in Ohio.

Columnist Marilou Johanek criticized Ramaswamy’s characterization of the state’s workforce, writing in the Ohio Capital Journal, “This guy doesn’t get us. Ohio boasts first-rate universities and colleges that train top-notch engineers, software developers, data scientists, systems analysts, computer architects, and plenty of highly educated professionals.”

She went on to describe his remarks as “scorn” and suggested he had misjudged the state’s economic and educational strength.

Despite some backlash, Ramaswamy has retained strong backing from political figures aligned with President Trump.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who was previously considered a contender for the governor’s mansion, has endorsed Ramaswamy.

Additionally, political operatives connected to Vice President JD Vance have joined his campaign efforts.

A memo from Trump-aligned pollster Fabrizio, Lee & Associates stated, “In no uncertain terms, Vivek Ramaswamy is the overwhelming frontrunner to be the Republican nominee for Governor in Ohio, and he’ll only be buoyed by his pro-Trump and America First policies and ideas.”

Ramaswamy is scheduled to formally announce his candidacy in Cincinnati on February 24, according to the Associated Press.

His campaign website lists planned events in Cincinnati, New Albany, Strongsville, and Toledo on February 24 and 25.

Currently, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is the only other Republican in the race for the 2026 gubernatorial election.

On the Democratic side, former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton is the only declared candidate.

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