Ramaswamy is looking to follow in the footsteps of Vice President JD Vance and Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, both of whom won Senate seats with the help of Trump’s endorsement. His entrance into the race has complicated things for a deep bench of veteran Republican politicians, many of whom also aspire to succeed term-limited Gov Mike DeWine. Attorney General Dave Yost announced his candidacy for the role on Thursday.
Ohio Voters’ Preferences
The AP report revealed that while Ohio voters have generally supported candidates with government experience for state-level offices, they tend to prefer business backgrounds when it comes to presidential and Senate races. Republican consultant Terry Casey pointed out that the requirements for governor are different from those for federal office. “At the federal legislative level, that’s a different yardstick and standard than for governor of Ohio,” he said. “Historically, the governor’s a little closer to voters – clearing highways, running prisons – than senators and members of Congress.”
Ramaswamy, known for his strong ties to Trump, is expected to benefit from instant popularity among the former president’s most ardent supporters. He has long-standing relationships with Vance and Moreno, both of whom played significant roles in Ohio’s Republican political landscape.
“The question is can you bypass the 20 years’ worth of political history that used to be required to run for governor,” said Ryan Stubenrauch, a Republican strategist and former senior policy adviser to DeWine.
Ramaswamy’s Background
Ramaswamy is the son of Indian immigrants and a native of Cincinnati. He earned degrees from both Harvard and Yale before joining a hedge fund firm and leading its pharmaceutical investments. He launched his own venture in 2014, Roivant, which specialises in buying patents for drugs stuck in development and resurrecting them. His venture has now accumulated a portfolio worth hundreds of millions of dollars, far surpassing the $15 million he loaned to his presidential campaign.Raised in a Hindu-practicing home, Ramaswamy has been able to connect with the Republican Party’s evangelical Christian base. He believes his faith shares core values with Christianity, and he traces his opposition to abortion rights to his time at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.
Political Struggles and Criticism
Despite his rising popularity, Ramaswamy has drawn criticism from both establishment Republicans and Trump’s populist wing. His stance on Ukraine and foreign tech workers has caused some friction with Republican hard-liners. In particular, his statement urging Trump to bring in more foreign tech workers upset former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and other supporters of restricted immigration.
Ramaswamy’s town hall in Springfield, Ohio, last year, following false claims by Trump and Vance that Haitian migrants in the area were eating people’s pets, attracted large crowds. But while his popularity continues to grow, some insiders have criticized his abrasive style, which they claim can be exhausting.
Plans for the Governor’s Race
Ramaswamy has long been considering a run for governor. Following Trump’s appointment of him to DOGE, Ramaswamy pulled himself out of consideration for the Senate seat vacated by Vance’s election as vice president. However, Ramaswamy later discussed the vacancy with Trump and even approached DeWine to ask for the appointment. The governor ultimately selected Lt. Gov. Jon Husted for the position, citing Husted’s extensive government experience.
A spokesperson for DOGE confirmed that Ramaswamy would not participate in the department’s cost-cutting initiative due to his plans to run for office. This leaves Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, as the department’s sole leader.
Ohio Republicans’ Response
Ramaswamy’s entrance into the governor’s race has complicated things for established Republican figures. By appointing Husted to the Senate, DeWine eliminated the leading contender to follow him as governor. Now, it is unclear whether the wealthy donors and key endorsers Husted had secured over the past six years will back another experienced Republican like Yost or Treasurer Robert Sprague.
Yost, 68, a former county prosecutor elected four times statewide, announced his candidacy on Thursday. He did not mention Ramaswamy in his statement but seemed to draw a contrast with the newcomer, stating, “This is my heart, my home. I work for the people of Ohio, and I love my bosses.”
Inputs from AP
