The Ohio Republican Party endorsed Cincinnati native, entrepreneur, and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in next year’s gubernatorial campaign.
“Grateful to receive the endorsement of the Ohio Republican Party by a historic 60-3 margin,” Ramaswamy said in a post to X. “We’re laser focused on growing our Republican voter base & delivering a decisive victory in ’26. This isn’t about left vs. right. It’s up vs. down. We’ll work hard to earn every last vote.”
The Ohio Republican Party endorsed Ramaswamy for governor nine months before the filing deadline and about a year before voters cast ballots in the state’s primary. Ohio Democrats seized the opportunity to throw shade at Ramaswamy and state Republicans.
“The vote took place during a closed-door meeting a year before the primary election,” they said in a post to X. “Republicans are working for billionaires in back rooms instead of Ohioans.”
Following the news, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s gubernatorial campaign appears at a crossroads. Yost’s campaign said it is assessing its “path forward.”
While it could be seen as a step toward abandoning the bid for the state’s top elected office, Yost’s campaign manager said in a statement that they don’t want the primary to be a “coronation” for Ramaswamy.
“We congratulate Mr. Ramaswamy,” Yost for Governor Campaign Manager Emily Hottinger said in a statement. “The Attorney General is going to take a few days to consult with key supporters about the path forward—but the people of Ohio deserve a choice, not a premature coronation of an untested candidate.”
The state party also endorsed former Lt. Governor Jon Husted in his bid to retain his U.S. Senate seat. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Husted, Ohio’s 66th lieutenant governor, former secretary of state and a former state lawmaker, to replace Vice President J.D. Vance in the U.S. Senate.
After next year’s special election, the seat will be up for a full six-year term in 2028.
Before Husted’s appointment, some saw Ramaswamy as a possible contender to replace Vance. While not necessarily unexpected, Ramaswamy’s entrance upended the governor’s race and caused some to reconsider their plans.
Even before Ramaswamy entered the race in February, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, who planned to mount a campaign for the state’s top elected post, said he would run for Secretary of State instead. He also pledged to endorse Ramaswamy for governor.
President Donald Trump has also endorsed Ramaswamy.
However, Husted’s replacement, current Republican Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, could also enter the gubernatorial race, according to various reports.
“I have not decided yet, but when I became Lieutenant Governor in February, Ellen told me that it seemed like God had more work for me to do, and she was right,” NBC News quoted Tressel as saying in a statement before the state party’s endorsement and referencing his wife, Ellen. “While I have not ruled out a run for Governor — and there will be a time in the future for those conversations — for now, I will remain focused on helping Ohioans get off the sidelines and into our workforce so they can reach their full potential.”
Next year’s gubernatorial race looks to be a high-profile affair. Dr. Amy Acton, the controversial former state health director during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, is running for the post as a Democrat, and other high-profile Democrats are expected to enter the race.
Former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his seat last year to Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, and former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan are possible entrants on the Democratic side. Republican Heather Hill, former Morgan County School Board president, has also declared her campaign.
Brown’s Senate campaign website and social channels remain active.
