Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and Donald Trump loyalist, announced his 2026 campaign for Ohio governor on Monday.
“I am running to be the governor of a great state at the heart of the greatest nation known to mankind,” he told a crowd of supporters.
Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, was selected by Donald Trump after exiting the race to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) alongside Elon Musk, but left the job to pursue elected office.
His candidacy was given an early boost of momentum after receiving an endorsement from President Trump.
“He will be a great Governor of Ohio, will never let you down, and has my complete and total endorsement,” Trump said on his social media platform on Monday..
Ramaswamy, 39, quickly became a Trump ally after exiting the Republican primary, where he pitched himself as a political outsider – like Trump – who wanted to develop the president’s “America First” agenda.
After a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, he left the race and became a vocal Trump supporter. He was later selected to co-lead Doge alongside the Tesla CEO and billionaire Musk.
He is running to succeed current Republican Governor Mike DeWine, considered a moderate conservative, who has spoken out against Trump in the past.
Speaking to hundreds gathered inside a hulking aerospace warehouse in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ramaswamy framed his candidacy in the image of Trump.
“President Trump is reviving our conviction in America. We require a leader here at home who will revive our conviction in Ohio,” Ramaswamy said.
Ohio’s Republican primary election will be held next year along with the nationwide elections for Congress.
Like Musk, Ramaswamy previously backed government-slashing proposals such as eliminating the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The native Ohioan also expressed a desire to “gut” the programme for H-1B visa workers, used to hire skilled foreign workers in the US, arguing that American culture has “venerated mediocrity over excellence”.
Ramaswamy, a wealthy pharmaceutical entrepreneur, was estimated by Forbes last year to have a net worth of $960m (£758m).
By BBC News
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