Politics
NEW: Vivek Ramaswamy To Announce Plans For Political Future Later This Month
Businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is expected to announce plans for his political future later this month.
Speculation surrounding the future of Ramaswamy’s political career has intensified in recent weeks after he resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) committee last month. The Elon Musk-led committee, which has been tasked with auditing federal agencies and reducing government waste, included Ramaswamy as a founding member.
Ramaswamy, an Ohio native, denied reports of tension between himself and Musk, telling reporters that he planned to focus on his home state for the time being. He was initially seen as a top contender to fill Vice President J.D. Vance’s Senate seat, though Republican Governor Mike DeWine ultimately nominated Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, who was sworn in last month.
Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Husted was long seen as the leading candidate to replace DeWine, who is term limited and cannot seek re-election in 2026. After Husted’s appointment, reports surfaced that Ramaswamy was eyeing a bid for governor and was expected to announce in the near future.
“Vivek’s base plan remains [the] same: to get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a run for governor shortly,” an Ohio political operative familiar with Ramaswamy’s plans told Fox News last month. While Ramaswamy’s plans for DOGE never materialized, he is expected to formally announce his bid for governor at an event later this month.
The former presidential candidate — who was a surprise success story during the Republican primary — is expected to formally kick off his bid in his native Cincinnati on February 24, according to a report from the Associated Press. He will then follow-up the announcement with a flood of rallies and campaign events in the Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland areas over the next several days.
Ramaswamy, 39, is expected to announce his candidacy at the Cincinnati’s CTL Aerospace Inc. He’ll then head to New Albany, outside Columbus, to deliver remarks at Axium Packaging later that evening, according to a campaign operative who spoke with the outlet on the condition of anonymity.
While Ramaswamy may emerge as an early favorite due to his national name recognition, he will be entering a crowded field that already includes Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Heather Hill, a former member of the state Martin Luther King Commission. It remains to be seen whether Governor DeWine, who has long been viewed as an establishment Republican, would back Ramaswamy’s campaign.
The biotech entrepreneur has already secured endorsements from two prominent Ohio lawmakers: Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Treasurer Robert Sprague. He is also expected to speak at a number of state Republican events in the early weeks of his campaign in order to gain more endorsements.
