Vivek Ramaswamy launches bid for Ohio governor weeks after quitting DOGE

Vivek Ramaswamy, who quit Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last month, launched his campaign for the 2026 Ohio governor's election.

In Short

• Ramaswamy quit DOGE last month amid backlash over critical remarks
• Makes business and cutting red tape central to his vision for Ohio
• Campaign will be guided by top political advisers of JD Vance

Indian-American billionaire and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who quit Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last month, has entered the race for the Ohio governor's post. However, Ramaswamy, who has cultivated a national profile and has close ties with Trump, will have his task cut out with top Republicans set to put their hat into the ring.

Republican Dave Yost, Ohio's Attorney General and former state auditor, has already announced his bid for the November 2026 election that is likely to draw other GOP contenders. From the Democrats, former Ohio health director Amy Acton is in the race.

Ramaswamy's campaign will be guided by the top political advisers of Vice President JD Vance, who previously represented Ohio in the US Senate.

Speaking at a rally in Cincinnati while officially launching his campaign, Ramaswamy, an Ohio native, said, "I am running to be the next governor of a great state at the heart of the greatest nation known to mankind – the state where I was born and raised, the state where Apoorva and I raise our two sons today – a state whose best days are still ahead."

Ramaswamy is married to Apoorva Tewari, a throat surgeon, and the couple have two children.

Putting out his vision for Ohio, the biotech entrepreneur made business and slashing red tape and regulations central to his speech. Interestingly, the location he chose for the announcement, an aerospace company, highlighted his support for business and manufacturing.

"I will lead Ohio to be the top state in the country to start and grow a business... We will shred every excess regulation in this state. For every new regulation that gets on the books under my administration, we will require rescinding at least ten others before that regulation hits the books," he said in a rousing speech.