The Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee voted on Friday to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, in a blow to Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH).
DeWine reportedly worked behind the scenes to block the 66-member committee from backing Ramaswamy, who has the support of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a former Ohio senator.
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The endorsement is also a blow to former Ohio State University football coach and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, who was considering entering the gubernatorial race, as well as Attorney General Dave Yost, who is running to succeed DeWine.
The state party’s endorsement gives Ramaswamy advantageous access to party resources over challengers.
The endorsement also comes on the heels of Donald Trump Jr. imploring the state GOP to back Ramaswamy’s bid to succeed DeWine.
“Dear Members of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee: I’m asking for you to stand with my father and endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor of Ohio. You were the FIRST state party in the nation to endorse my father in the last election cycle. We will never forget your courage, loyalty, and leadership,” Trump Jr. wrote on social media.
The backing of Ramaswamy represents Trump’s MAGA branch of the GOP defeating establishment-minded figures once again. Ramaswamy has been a fervent supporter of Trump, even when he ran against the president in the GOP primary last year.
The Ohio Democratic Party quickly moved to lambaste Ramaswamy’s endorsement on social media.
“The vote took place during a closed door meeting a year before the primary election. Republicans are working for billionaires in back rooms instead of Ohioans,” the state party wrote.
Ramaswamy, a former 2024 presidential candidate, stepped down from running the Department of Government Efficiency with Elon Musk in January to focus on the Ohio gubernatorial race instead.