Vivek Ramaswamy, the co-chair of President-elect Trump’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is setting his sights on a run for governor of Ohio, two sources confirmed to The Hill on Friday.
Ramaswamy previously ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary before suspending his campaign and endorsing the eventual president. His pivot to a leadership role in DOGE has positioned him as a key figure in Trump’s administration, focused on trimming federal spending alongside co-chair and fellow tech magnate Elon Musk.
The news of Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial ambitions comes just hours after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced his decision to appoint Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) to replace JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. The Washington Post first reported the story earlier Friday afternoon.
According to one insider, Ramaswamy’s strategy is to “rack up accomplishments at DOGE” before officially launching his campaign for the Buckeye State’s highest office. Trump has indicated that DOGE’s work should conclude by mid-2026, which would align neatly with Ramaswamy’s potential campaign timeline.
JUST IN: Vivek Ramaswamy plans to announce he is running for governor of Ohio, according to the Washington Post.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 17, 2025
🔥🔥
“The co-leader of Trump's DOGE initiative plans to announce a run for Ohio governor, two people familiar with his plans said,” the outlet reported.
The… pic.twitter.com/qILlQSZZ9V
Interestingly, Trump had reportedly encouraged Ramaswamy to take the Ohio Senate seat left vacant by JD Vance’s departure. However, that decision ultimately fell to Gov. DeWine, who chose Husted for the role.
For now, Ramaswamy appears focused on leveraging his high-profile role at DOGE as a springboard for his political future in Ohio, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal campaign in 2026.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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Sure would be an improvement over DeWino DeRino.