Ohio entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is expected to declare his intention to run for governor of Ohio “shortly,” as confirmed by a reliable source close to Ramaswamy.

Former President Donald Trump had suggested Ramaswamy, age 39, consider succeeding J.D. Vance as Trump’s Senate running mate. However, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to the Senate position on Friday.

Ramaswamy, who has roots in the Cincinnati area and now lives in the suburbs of Columbus, was a late entrant for the Senate seat after he previously stepped back from consideration two months ago. Trump had selected Ramaswamy to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk.

Ultimately, Ramaswamy views himself as an executive and aims to run for governor of Ohio in 2026, according to a source linked to him. Due to term limits, DeWine is unable to seek reelection.

With Trump’s anticipated backing, Ramaswamy may have a competitive advantage in the GOP primary. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost plans to officially announce his candidacy for governor in late February, citing a significant wave of support for his campaign, as per spokeswoman Amy Natoce. Husted exiting the race clears the field for at least one less competitor.

Additionally, former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton recently declared her intention to run for governor as a Democrat.

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?

After completing his education at Harvard and Yale Law School − where he overlapped with Vance − Ramaswamy established a pharmaceutical company and an asset management firm.

He is an alumnus of St. Xavier High School, a private Jesuit all-boys institution located just west of Cincinnati, where he graduated as the valedictorian in 2003.

During his unsuccessful attempt for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, Ramaswamy proposed eliminating the Department of Education, the FBI, and other government agencies. He attracted attention for his unconventional proposals, such as increasing the voting age to 25 unless individuals have served in the military or passed a civics examination.

Ramaswamy’s appointment to a position came shortly after he faced criticism for a social media post that attributed American “mediocrity” to tech companies’ preference for hiring immigrants. He took a short break from social media earlier this month following advice from Trump’s team urging Cabinet nominees to refrain from posting without approval from the incoming White House counsel.

Haley BeMiller and Jessie Balmert report on state government and political affairs for the News Network Ohio Bureau, which serves various news organizations, including the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, and Akron Beacon Journal, alongside 18 other affiliates across Ohio.