COLUMBUS, Ohio – Donald Trump, the President-elect, is advocating for his former contender in the 2024 GOP primary, Vivek Ramaswamy, to take on the open U.S. Senate position in Ohio, as reported by someone informed about the talks.

Governor Mike DeWine, who is a Republican, is tasked with selecting a replacement for Vice President-elect JD Vance, who stepped down from his Senate role last week. The new appointee will serve alongside first-term GOP Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno for a period of two years and must campaign in November 2026 to retain the seat. The successful candidate in that election will complete the remainder of Vance’s term, which concludes in 2028.

The Washington Post was the first to disclose that Ramaswamy is once again a candidate for consideration, months after he had previously retracted his name. A source close to the discussions has confirmed to the YSL News Network’s Ohio statehouse bureau that Ramaswamy is pondering the opportunity and recently met with DeWine.

Ramaswamy’s renewed interest follows some backlash for a social media post criticizing American “mediocrity” and a culture that celebrates characters like Zach and Slater from “Saved By the Bell.”

Numerous Ohio Republicans have shown interest in the Senate position, including Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken. Reports suggest that Husted is currently the leading candidate, although he is deliberating whether to accept the appointment or aim for the governorship in 2026.

DeWine’s spokesperson chose not to provide comments.

Ramaswamy is a resident of suburban Columbus and grew up in the Cincinnati area. After completing his education at Harvard and Yale Law School—where he studied with Vance—he established a pharmaceutical business and an asset management firm. Following an unsuccessful presidential run, he has become a loyal ally of Trump, seen by many as a future leader in the Republican Party.

The President-elect appointed Ramaswamy to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, colloquially known as DOGE, in collaboration with Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk. There are also whispers of Ramaswamy potentially running for Ohio governor.

It remains uncertain what will happen to Ramaswamy’s position in DOGE if he steps into the Senate. The organization is not an official government entity.

Haley BeMiller reports on state government and political matters for the News Network Ohio Bureau, which serves various affiliated news organizations, including the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, and Akron Beacon Journal, among others across Ohio.