Indian-American millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy announces bid for Ohio governor
What's the story
Indian-American millionaire and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the Ohio governor's race.
The announcement comes just a month after he left Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Ramaswamy launched his campaign at a rally in Cincinnati, where he highlighted his local roots and laid out a vision focused on cutting red tape and growing businesses.
Campaign vision
Ramaswamy's campaign focuses on business growth, regulation reduction
A Cincinnati native, Ramaswamy is hoping to replace term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine in the 2026 election.
At his campaign launch, he said, "I am running to be the next governor of a great state at the heart of the greatest nation known to mankind."
He also promised that "for every new regulation that gets on the books under my administration, we will require rescinding at least 10 others."
Campaign support
Ramaswamy's campaign backed by top political advisers
Ramaswamy's gubernatorial campaign is being backed by top political advisers from Vice President JD Vance's team.
Although he has never held an elected office, Ramaswamy became a household name during his 2024 presidential bid.
He later exited the race to endorse Trump, who appointed him co-chair of DOGE with Elon Musk.
Race dynamics
Ramaswamy's entry intensifies competition in Republican primary field
Ramaswamy's entry into the governor's race has made an already competitive Republican primary field even more intense.
Other contenders include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Heather Hill, a Black entrepreneur from Appalachia.
On the Democratic side, Dr. Amy Acton, former Ohio Department of Health Director, is also a candidate.
Notably, Ramaswamy has received endorsements from Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
Personal profile
Ramaswamy's political journey and family support
Ramaswamy first shot to political fame with his 2021 book Woke Inc: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam. He then laid out his core beliefs in another book called Truths: The Future of America First.
His campaign hopes to replicate the success of political outsiders like JD Vance and Bernie Moreno, who won Senate seats with Trump's endorsement.
Ramaswamy is married to Apoorva Tewari, a throat surgeon at the James Cancer Center at Ohio State University.