Cnn
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Vivek Ramaswamy announced on Monday evening that he presented himself as Ohio governor in 2026, capping a rapid event sequence in recent weeks which included the former presidential candidate of the GOP who came out president Donald TrumpThe government’s efficiency effort and being adopted for the siege of the American Senate vacant by Vice-President JD Vance.
“Today, I am honored to announce that I will present myself to be the next governor of a great state at the heart of the greatest known nation in humanity – the state when I was born and high, the A state in which apoorva and I are raising our two sounds today – a state whose best days are still ahead, “said Ramaswamy during a rally in Cincinnati.
Ramaswamy’s entry comes after the Ohio Dave Yost prosecutor general announced his candidacy Last month to succeed in the Republican Governor limited to Mike Dewine terms in a race that could attract other GOP contenders. Former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton presents himself for democratic appointment. Trump won the Ohio by 11 points in the November elections.
Trump approved the candidacy of the Governor of Ramaswamy on Monday evening, praising his former main opponent of the GOP in an article on Truth Social as “something special”.
“Vivek is also a very good person, who really likes our country. He will be a great governor of Ohio, will never let you fall and will have my complete and total approval! The president added.
Ramaswamy had been operated by Trump in November to co-direct the so-called Ministry of Government efficiency, or DOGE, working alongside the Elon Musk technological billionaire. The pair had previewed plans For steep reductions in public spending and regulations.
While the inauguration of Trump was approaching, the future involvement of Ramaswamy with Doge has become more uncertain. He also ran controversy with publications on social networks in December criticizing American cultural values, and he clashed with other supporters of Trump on visas For highly qualified foreign workers.
The role of the native of Cincinnati with Doge was still confused while Dewine began to deliberate who appoints at the siege of the American Senate before the Escure of Vance as vice-president.
The name of Ramaswamy took place in discussions surrounding the Senate meeting – despite the fact that he had withdrawn from the affirmations in Novembersaying he was focused on his work with Doge. Sources have told CNN that Trump had encouraged Ramaswamy to examine the appointment, and Ramaswamy met Dewine on weekends before the governor made his selection.
Dewine finally Selected Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon HustedAn ally that had long been considered a potential successor, avoiding a potential primary struggle of the GOP between Husted and Ramaswamy in the race for the governor.
After the announcement of the Senate, sources familiar with Ramaswamy’s thought told CNN that he would focus on his efforts with Doge before launching an offer for the governor. But the calendar of a campaign announcement has accelerated, which led the Trump administration to confirm that Ramaswamy would no longer be involved with Doge.
“Vivek Ramaswamy played an essential role by helping us create Doge. He intends to present himself to functions elected soon, which forces him to stay outside Doge according to the structure that we have announced today. We thank him immensely for his contributions in the last 2 months and we expect him to play an essential role in the creation of America again! Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement last month.
During the weeks that followed, Ramaswamy spent time traveling through Ohio and the country, stimulating excitement for its campaign launch, collecting the endorsements of waiting supporters and competing in social media while breathing out The Trump agenda.
Ramaswamy went to a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball match And welcomed the fans in early February; A few days later, he attended a comedy in Columbus. In addition, he traveled to Super bowl in New Orleans and Daytona 500 In West Palm Beach, Florida – the two events also attended by Trump.
Meanwhile, the List of Ramaswamy endorsers grew up in anticipation of its official entry into the race. Ohio’s secretary of state of state, Frank Larose, pre-Endossé Ramaswamy earlier this month, writing On social networks, “if he decides to go to the post of governor, he will have my full support.” The treasurer of the state Robert Sprague and several Senators of the American GOP also expressed their support for Ramaswamy, in particular Utah Mike Lee senator,, Florida Senator Rick Scott And The senator of Tennessee Marsha Blackburn.
But despite Husted’s redirect to the Senate and a list of eminent supporters, Ramaswamy still faces obstacles in the GOP primary, including the rival campaign of Yost.
In recent weeks, the former football coach of the Ohio State University, Jim Tresl, who was appointed by Dewine to take the place of Husted as a Lieutenant-Governor, A reported He plans to go into the race for the governor.
The entry of Tresl could set up intriguing competition with Ramaswamy, opposing a national symbol of the new brand of conservative policy to a faithful state with a soft voice recently exploited by the governor of two outgoing mandates.
Ramaswamy is a recent newcomer in politics, having considerably high His profile during a presidential campaign in 2024 for a long time – his first race for his functions, although he planned to present himself to the American Senate in Ohio in 2022.
He launched his candidacy for the White House in February 2023 as a former former biotechnology manager whose books “Woke, Inc.” And “Nation of Victim” had given him growing status in the right -wing media. Using his personal fortune, estimated at hundreds of millions, Ramaswamy was able to sow his campaign and gain national importance.
And despite the Trump challenge, Ramaswamy assiduously diligently assiduous the former president’s criticism during the competition, rather praising Trump’s agenda and making a name with a series of Apparitions of conflicting media,, Anti-establishment messaging And Controversial policy proposals.
Ramaswamy also caused a sensation during the presidential primary debates of the GOP (which Trump jumped), washing in his republican rivals and by drawing reprimands of his opponents – including the former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley, who, who, who, who called her “Just Scum” during a controversial exchange. Their clashes sparked a rivalry that continued in the new administration; In the midst of dust on Ramaswamy’s comments on American culture and high -qualified immigration last month, Haley replied On social networks, “there is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how much we want. »»
Despite its success which generated titles, in January 2024, with the example of Trump in the primary becoming prohibitive, Ramaswamy suspended his campaign and immediately approved the former president. And it has turned into an energetic substitute for the Trump campaign, perplexed for the republican ticket and resonate Trump’s agenda, leading to his DOGE meeting.
Ramaswamy, who is Hindu and sons of Indian immigrants, was raised in Cincinnati. He graduated from Harvard University with a diploma in biology before obtaining a law degree from the University of Yale.
In 2014, he founded Kinging, the source of the majority of his fortune. The company aims for drugs that large pharmaceutical companies have put aside because they do not integrate into the business model of the company. King would buy the right to develop these drugs and share the profits with the original company. The “king” in the names of the company means return on investment.
After king, Ramaswamy has helped start Strive Asset Management, an investment management company which acquired the reputation of refusing to consider the ideology “awake” in investment decisions, including the factors of environmental, social and social governance and of business – the positions he has often reported on the track.
This title and this story have been updated with additional developments.
Piper Hudspeth Blackburn of CNN contributed to this report.