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Vivek Ramaswamy poised to announce 2026 bid for Ohio governor
CNN
Vivek Ramaswamy is expected to announce Monday evening that he is running for governor of Ohio in 2026, capping a rapid-fire sequence of events in recent weeks that included the former GOP presidential candidate exiting President Donald Trump’s government efficiency effort and being passed over for the US Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance.
Vivek Ramaswamy is expected to announce Monday evening that he is running for governor of Ohio in 2026, capping a rapid-fire sequence of events in recent weeks that included the former GOP presidential candidate exiting President Donald Trump’s government efficiency effort and being passed over for the US Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. The entrance by Ramaswamy comes after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced his candidacy last month to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in a race that could draw other GOP contenders. Former Ohio health director Amy Acton is running for the Democratic nomination. Trump won Ohio by 11 points in November’s election. Ramaswamy had been tapped by Trump in November to co-lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, working alongside tech billionaire Elon Musk. The pair had previewed plans for steep cuts to government spending and regulation. As Trump’s inauguration neared, Ramaswamy’s future involvement with DOGE became more uncertain. He also courted controversy with social media posts in December criticizing American cultural values, and he clashed with other Trump supporters over visas for highly skilled foreign workers. The Cincinnati native’s role with DOGE was further muddled as DeWine began deliberating whom to appoint to the US Senate seat ahead of Vance’s swearing-in as vice president. Ramaswamy’s name came up in discussions surrounding the Senate appointment — despite the fact that he had removed himself from contention in November, saying he was focused on his work with DOGE. Sources told CNN that Trump privately encouraged Ramaswamy to consider the appointment, and Ramaswamy met with DeWine the weekend before the governor made his selection.