Ohio Republican Party endorses Vivek Ramaswamy for governor
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio Republican Party on Friday endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor.
The endorsement for the 2026 race came at the Ohio Republican State Central Committee meeting. Ramaswamy received 60 votes by secret ballot. He needed 44 votes.
Ramaswamy was endorsed by President Donald Trump not long after he officially launched his bid. The president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, called in at the start of the meeting to urge unity within the party.
Ramaswamy thanked the party for its endorsement.
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'It's a major milestone, and I think it reflects unprecedented unity in the Republican Party of this state,' he said. 'That puts us in an incredibly strong position heading into 2026.'
He said he would be looking toward potential lieutenant governor candidates in the second half of this year.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is running for auditor, and Treasurer Robert Sprague, who is running for Secretary of State, both support Ramaswamy for governor. Auditor Keith Faber, who is running for Attorney General, said he is not making an endorsement at the moment, but is fine with the committee's choice to endorse a candidate on Friday.
'I respect Dave, I respect Vivek, and I respect Lt. Gov. Tressel, so I just didn't think it was time for me to jump in personally at this point,' Faber said. 'I think they all have great strengths and I'll let them communicate that themselves to the voters of Ohio.'
Ramaswamy and Attorney General Dave Yost are running as Republicans to replace the term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine. Dr. Amy Acton is running as a Democrat. Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a Republican, told NBC News in a statement that he is considering a run for governor. He previously said he was not thinking about it, but didn't officially rule it out.
'We congratulate Mr. Ramaswamy,' Yost's campaign said in a statement after the endorsement. 'The Attorney General is going to take a few days to consult with key supporters about the path forward — but the people of Ohio deserve a choice, not a premature coronation of an untested candidate.'
'What has been a surprise, and it has been humbling, is how many people are encouraging me to run for Governor,' Tressel said in the statement.
DeWine was working to prevent the state GOP from endorsing Ramaswamy on Friday, according to reporting from NBC News. DeWine wasn't pushing for a specific candidate, but instead to delay the endorsement, thinking that it was too soon to endorse anyone.
'I think he would like to forestall an endorsement taking place, because I think he would like to see if he can convince Jim Tressel to run for governor,' a Republican leader told NBC News.
Despite being nearly a year out from the primary, the 66-member committee voted 51-13 on Friday to issue an endorsement in the race, later voting to endorse Ramaswamy. Two members were absent.
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'The Ohio Republican Party's rushed endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy proves that despite his attempts to claim otherwise, he is the ultimate party insider who would cater to his fellow billionaires while leaving Ohioans behind,' Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Katie Seewer said in a statement.
Ramaswamy was in attendance at the meeting, and gave a speech to the committee during executive session. Yost was not there because he was attending the funeral of a Hamilton County deputy who was killed in the line of duty. Yost's wife spoke on his behalf. Tressel was not at the meeting.
'His funeral is Friday morning in Cincinnati — and that presents me with a painful choice,' Yost said in a letter to the committee. 'As the chief law enforcement officer of this state, it has been my practice to attend the funerals for law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.'
'We have a very important meeting Friday morning,' Yost said. 'But it's merely about politics, whether to endorse a candidate for Governor in a primary that is nearly a year away. I have decided that I will put remembrance of Deputy Larry Henderson and my duty first. As you meet Friday, I will be in Cincinnati.'
'I believe this is the right thing to do (regardless of whether it is politically wise) and have so chosen my course,' he wrote.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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