Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in the May 5 primary, setting up a November contest against Democrat Amy Acton, CBS News projects.
Ramaswamy, a biotech billionaire and former 2024 Republican presidential candidate, defeated small business owner Casey Putsch, known as “The Car Guy.” Another candidate, Morgan County school board member Heather Hill, was removed from consideration after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that votes for her would not count because her running mate withdrew, and state law requires gubernatorial candidates to run with a lieutenant governor partner.
Democrat Amy Acton, a former Ohio Department of Public Health director, ran unopposed in her party’s primary.
Ohio’s incumbent Republican governor, Mike DeWine, is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. The state has a recent history of leaning Republican; Donald Trump won Ohio by 11 points in the 2024 presidential election.
Originally, the Republican primary field was expected to include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel. However, Yost withdrew after the Ohio Republican Party and Trump endorsed Ramaswamy, and Tressel opted not to enter the race, consolidating support around Ramaswamy.
Ramaswamy’s political profile rose nationally during his 2024 presidential bid. After the 2024 election, he aligned with Trump and was briefly involved in the Department of Government Efficiency, a position he left a day after Trump’s inauguration to focus on running for office.
According to campaign finance reports, Ramaswamy raised $5 million in the first quarter of 2026 and loaned his campaign an additional $25 million, leaving $30 million cash on hand as of April. Acton raised $5.1 million during the same period, with $3 million available.
Ohio resident and Vice President JD Vance publicly stated he voted for Ramaswamy in the primary.
Why it matters
Ramaswamy’s win reflects the continued influence of Trump-backed candidates within the Ohio Republican Party and may signal the party’s direction heading into the general election. The governor’s race is also notable given Ohio’s recent history as a reliable Republican state and the high-profile candidates involved. The outcome will shape Ohio’s executive leadership amid ongoing national political shifts.
Background
Mike DeWine, term-limited after serving two terms as governor, leaves an open seat that attracted initial interest from several GOP figures. Ramaswamy’s emergence came amid a volatile Republican primary landscape, influenced heavily by endorsements from prominent party leaders and former President Trump. This race occurs as Ohio plays a key role in national politics, having supported Trump decisively in the 2024 presidential election.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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