Vivek Ramaswamy is set to announce a bid for governor of Ohio after he was passed over for JD Vance’s Senate seat.
Ramaswamy, 39, a biotech entrepreneur from Cincinnati who is co-leading Trump’s government efficiency initiative DOGE, has all but confirmed he will be running via social media Friday.
It began when Ramaswamy quote tweeted Congresswoman Nancy Mace and Senator Marsha Blackburn endorsing the hypothetical bid to thank them.
He then quote-tweeted a parody account of himself announcing the run, clarifying that it was a parody, but added that running for governor was ‘not a bad idea.’
Ramaswamy was named by Trump to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help cut government waste in Washington after running against Trump in the 2024 Republican Primary.
An operative familiar with Ramaswamy’s thinking told DailyMail.com that he plans to deliver results at DOGE and then announce a bid for governor shortly.
In addition, sources closed to Ramaswamy have said he will announce a run next week, Fox News and Bloomberg report.
Governor Mike DeWine is term limited so the race will be wide open in 2026.
Vivek Ramaswamy is set to announce a bid for governor of Ohio after he was passed over for JD Vance’s Senate seat
Vance’s replacement in his old Senate seat was announced on Friday
The current governor announced on Friday that he is appointing Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to fill Vice President-elect J.D. Vance‘s vacant seat in the Senate.
DeWine made the announcement in Ohio with Husted by his side after months of speculation over who he would pick to send to Washington to serve the rest of Vance’s term.
In his search for Vance’s replacement, DeWine also met with former GOP presidential candidate and close Trump ally Ramaswamy despite him having ruled himself out of the running to fill the vacancy last year.
Husted, 57, has been his lieutenant governor since 2019 and served as the state’s secretary of state from 2011 to 2019. He also served in the state Senate and House including as Ohio house speaker.
DeWine said in searching for the state’s new senator that he was looking for someone who knew Ohio’s complexities and understands the interaction between state and federal government.
The governor said Husted ‘has the background [and the] experience to get the job done.’
The governor shared that making his decision was a heavy responsibility that he took very seriously having himself served in the U.S. Senate for 12 years.
He also revealed that he interviewed many candidates for the job, but he decided to go with someone who has been close to him for the past six years.
Ohio GOP Governor Mike DeWine (left) appointed his Lt. Governor Jon Husted (center) to fill the Ohio Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance
‘I have worked with him, I have seen him. I know his knowledge of Ohio. I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills,’ DeWine said.
Husted along with his wife and children were standing next to DeWine as he made the announcement.
‘It is my honor to accept the appointment to serve the people of the state of Ohio in the U.S. Senate,’ Husted said.
He said he is looking forward to President-elect Trump and Vance to ‘make America great again.’
Husted specifically mentioned work to fight inflation, illegal immigration and promote conservative values.
‘I will continue to be an America first conservative who wants to get things done, and knows that public service is a temporary gift that you have to make the most of for the people you represent,’ Husted said.
Republicans in Washington immediately praised the appointment.
Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) who runs the GOP Senate campaign arm said the people of Ohio will ‘continue to have a conservative fighter representing them in Washington with the appointment of Jon Husted.’
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted speaking in Newark, Ohio in January 2022
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, who was just sworn into office weeks ago, said he looks forward to working with Husted to ‘deliver results for Ohio.’
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote in a post on X that his ‘expertise and commitment to delivering results for Ohioans will be invaluable in Washington.’
DeWine also touched on Vance being sworn into office as vice president on Monday.
He said the state is very proud of him, proud of an Ohioan serving as vice president and wish him all the best.
Vance resigned from the Senate at midnight on January 10 having served just two years of his first term.
When he ran for the Senate in the 2022 midterms, it was his first bid for public office.
In his announcement, DeWine noted he was picking someone who would have to be constantly running for office, signaling that Husted will run in the special election and for a full term.
An Ohio special election will be held in November 2026 to fill the final two years of Vance’s first term in the Senate.
Then, Husted will have to run again in 2028 if he wants to serve a full six-year term.
