Vivek Ramaswamy, who gained national attention after running for president in 2024, is the projected winner of Tuesday's GOP primary race for Ohio governor. This sets up the biotech entrepreneur's already expensive campaign for November's general election against Democrat Dr. Amy Acton.
Primary Victory and Background
Ramaswamy, who had the backing of President Donald Trump, defeated long-shot candidate and car designer Casey Putsch. Putsch, a YouTube provocateur, ran a campaign that included racist statements targeting Ramaswamy, who is Indian American and was raised Hindu.
After founding a company that profited from its role in developing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, the near-billionaire stepped into the national political spotlight by joining the Republican primary race for the 2024 presidential election. Despite making headlines for his brash, fast-talking manner during debates, Ramaswamy exited the race with single-digit polling and eventually endorsed Trump.
Role in Government Efficiency
Ramaswamy helped tech billionaire Elon Musk create the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency, which, under Trump, eliminated entire agencies while laying off federal employees. The department was a key part of Trump's second-term agenda.
Path to Governor Race
The Ohio Republican left his position to run for governor in his home state after previous GOP frontrunner Jon Husted was appointed to replace now-Vice President JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. Vance was in Ohio campaigning with Ramaswamy on Tuesday and said he voted for him in the gubernatorial primary.
General Election Opponent
Ramaswamy will next face Acton, the state's former health director, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Acton helped guide Ohio through the pandemic, though Ramaswamy has targeted her over the restrictive COVID-19 policies she helped implement at the start of the crisis.
Controversies
Ramaswamy's campaign was recently put at risk after a January 2023 video of him talking to students at conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan resurfaced. In the video, he said, "Ohio's a good state. I just can't say it's the best state." This comment drew criticism from Acton's campaign.
Acton's campaign spokesperson told HuffPost, "Ramaswamy is an out-of-touch billionaire who moved his business to Texas, calls Ohioans 'lazy' and 'mediocre,' and looks down at Ohio from the seat of his private jet. So it's not surprising that he won't call Ohio the best state."
