Vivek Ramaswamy To Launch Ohio Gubernatorial Bid On Feb.24

India-West News Desk

CINCINNATI, OH — Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is set to announce his 2026 candidacy for Ohio governor on February 24, following his recent campaign filing. According to The Associated Press, he will make stops in Columbus, Toledo, and Cleveland over the next two days to kick off his campaign.

Ramaswamy, 39, will enter a competitive GOP primary to succeed Gov. Mike DeWine. His challengers include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Heather Hill, a former member of the state Martin Luther King Commission.

Former Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, once considered a frontrunner, withdrew from the race last month after being appointed to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Vice President JD Vance. A longtime friend of Ramaswamy’s from their Yale Law School days, Vance’s political team is backing Ramaswamy, with many of its members already joining his campaign.

Despite lacking political or government experience, Ramaswamy has secured endorsements from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and State Treasurer Robert Sprague, AP reported. In recent weeks, Ramaswamy has gained endorsements from prominent Republican leaders, including GOP Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. Blackburn praised Ramaswamy’s leadership, stating, “He has a servant’s heart and a brilliant entrepreneurial mind. The people of Ohio would be well served by his leadership, and if he chooses to run, he’ll have my full support.”

Fox News Digital confirmed that Ramaswamy’s campaign officially filed its Designation of Treasurer form with Ohio’s Secretary of State on February 14, a necessary step before making expenditures or receiving contributions. The filing, registered under the name “Vivek Ramaswamy For Ohio,” did not explicitly reference the gubernatorial bid but signaled the campaign’s official formation.

The announcement follows nearly a month after Ramaswamy’s departure from DOGE, a position he left due to disagreements with Tesla CEO Elon Musk over H-1B temporary worker visas, a divisive issue among Trump supporters.