Ramaswamy Planning To Run For Ohio Governor: Reports
Incoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy appears to be preparing for his next political endeavor, according to multiple reports on Friday.
Ramaswamy is expected to announce a gubernatorial bid in Ohio as current Governor Mike DeWine nears the end of his term limits, having served two consecutive four-year terms. Just the News reports that Ramaswamy’s announcement will likely follow Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted’s anticipated move to replace Vice President-elect JD Vance in the Senate.
“Vivek’s base plan remains [the] same: to get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a run for governor shortly,” an Ohio political insider familiar with Ramaswamy’s strategy told Fox News under the condition of anonymity.
Husted had initially planned to run for governor in 2026 to succeed DeWine but appears to have shifted focus following the Senate opening.
At 39, Ramaswamy, an Ohio native, has already made significant political waves. His presidential campaign, launched in February 2023, transformed him from an underdog to a legitimate contender for the Republican nomination.
Running on what he coined an “America First 2.0” agenda, Ramaswamy emerged as a vocal supporter of Donald Trump. He often praised Trump as the “most successful president in our century” and avoided directly criticizing him during his campaign.
Ohio, once a key battleground state, has become increasingly Republican over the past decade, with the GOP holding most statewide offices and a strong majority in its congressional delegation.
Following Trump’s November election victory, both Ramaswamy and Elon Musk officially joined the administration, tasked with spearheading efforts to reduce government spending and streamline federal operations. Throughout the campaign, both men were outspoken about the need for a leaner, more efficient government.
“I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE],” Trump declared on Truth Social.
Notably, ‘DOGE’ also shares its name with a cryptocurrency often promoted by Musk.
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in his announcement.
The Department of Government Efficiency, however, is not a new federal agency. Trump explained that its role would be to “provide advice and guidance from outside of government” while working alongside the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive structural reform, as reported by ABC News.
“This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” Musk stated in the official announcement.
Trump compared the initiative to the “Manhattan Project” in terms of its potential scope, influence, and historical significance.
“Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before,” Trump wrote.
He further emphasized, “I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending.”
Trump set a clear deadline for their efforts: July 4, 2026. “Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 — A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!”