Reports: Vivek Ramaswamy Gearing Up For Governor Bid, Parting Ways With DOGE

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a former Republican presidential candidate, is preparing to announce his candidacy for governor of Ohio in 2026. According to several media reports, Ramaswamy will make the official announcement early next week.

The Ohio governor’s seat will be open as incumbent Governor Mike DeWine reaches his term limit. Ramaswamy’s candidacy comes after DeWine appointed Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to fill the Senate vacancy left by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Departure from DOGE

Ramaswamy’s decision to run for governor signals a departure from DOGE, a federal advisory group under President-elect Donald Trump, tasked with reducing federal spending by $2 trillion by 2026. Ramaswamy, who had overseen key deregulation efforts at DOGE, will leave the department’s operations in the hands of co-chair Elon Musk.

Ramaswamy hinted at the transition, posting a photo on social media with Musk on January 20 captioned, “A new dawn.”

Ramaswamy’s focus on Ohio politics is not unexpected. Although he initially declared he was putting his gubernatorial ambitions on hold to lead DOGE, his political aspirations reignited after the Senate appointment process.

Earlier this month, Ramaswamy emerged as a late contender for the Senate seat vacated by Vance, meeting with Governor DeWine. However, the position ultimately went to Husted, who was widely seen as a leading candidate to succeed DeWine, leaving the path for Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial bid more open.

Ramaswamy, an Ohio native, brings a national profile to the state race, having gained prominence during his 2024 presidential run, where he competed against Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.