Vivek Ramaswamy Secures GOP Endorsement in Ohio Governor’s Race, Riding Trump’s Full Support
The Ohio Republican Party has officially endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, sealing the biotech entrepreneur and former Trump rival as the GOP’s top pick to lead the Buckeye State in 2026. The endorsement follows a highly influential endorsement from President Donald Trump, who called Ramaswamy “something SPECIAL” and “a very good person, who truly loves our Country.”
The state GOP’s central committee vote put Ramaswamy over established figures like Attorney General Dave Yost, despite recent controversies surrounding Ramaswamy’s support for H-1B visas and critiques of American cultural values.
“INTRODUCING: Ohio’s Endorsed Candidate for Governor,” the party wrote Friday on social media, posting a campaign-style photo of a smiling Ramaswamy.
Trump’s Blessing Tips the Scales
Trump’s post on Truth Social in late February electrified Ramaswamy’s prospects.
“VIVEK RAMASWAMY is running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio. I know him well, competed against him, and he is something SPECIAL… He will be a GREAT Governor of Ohio, will never let you down, and has my COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!”
Trump’s endorsement likely tipped the balance against career GOP mainstays like Yost, signaling the continued dominance of America First loyalists within state parties across the country.
From DOGE to Governor
Ramaswamy stepped down from his post as co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in early 2025 to pursue the governor’s race. His decision came just weeks after taking office under the new Trump administration, suggesting a long-anticipated shift to elected office.
Though his pro-H-1B immigration stance raised eyebrows among grassroots conservatives, especially amid high unemployment in tech sectors, Ramaswamy has doubled down on the need to balance national excellence with immigration reform, calling America’s current culture “mediocrity-obsessed.”
“We celebrate the prom queen and the class clown more than the kid coding in the garage,” he wrote on X.
The remarks drew backlash from some Trump-aligned influencers, who accused him of prioritizing foreign workers over American talent. But the Ohio GOP endorsement signals that the party establishment—and Trump himself—believes Ramaswamy’s vision and record outweigh the controversy.
The Road Ahead
As the GOP gears up for a pivotal election cycle, Ramaswamy’s nomination will test whether Republican voters are ready to embrace a next-generation America First candidate with a tech-driven, performance-oriented philosophy.
His rise could also serve as a blueprint for Trump-aligned outsiders seeking power at the state level—especially those with the former president’s stamp of approval.