Vivek Ramaswamy is running for Ohio governor to advance a Trump-aligned conservative agenda focused on slashing bureaucracy, promoting capitalism, and combating progressive policies. The biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 presidential candidate aims to position Ohio as a national model for limited government and merit-based systems, leveraging his outsider status and ties to Donald Trump’s movement.
Ramaswamy frames his campaign as an extension of Trump’s “America First” policies, emphasizing deregulation and reducing federal overreach. He pledged to make Ohio a magnet for conservatives, declaring, “We will lead Ohio to be the top state in the country that takes a hatchet to red tape” [1][6]. His platform mirrors Trump’s anti-establishment playbook, targeting Ohio’s entrenched GOP figures like Attorney General Dave Yost as part of the “anti-Trump Republican” class [6].
A central theme is opposing corporate “wokeism” and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. Ramaswamy’s 2021 book *Woke, Inc.* criticized companies for prioritizing social justice over meritocracy, a stance he’ll apply to state contracts and regulations [2][8]. He advocates for Ohio to become a hub for “unapologetic capitalism,” stripping back business regulations and promoting fossil fuels [4][10].
Ramaswamy, who has never held elected office, touts his business success as proof he can streamline government. His campaign contrasts with traditional Ohio GOP candidates who often rise through decades of public service. This strategy follows the path of Trump-endorsed Ohio newcomers like Sen. Bernie Moreno, who won office despite lacking prior political experience [4][6].
His platform includes banning critical race theory in schools, restricting transgender rights, and enforcing strict abortion limits (with exceptions for rape/incest). He has called the LGBTQ movement a “cult” and supports Ohio’s existing six-week abortion ban [8][10]. These positions aim to mobilize the GOP base ahead of a competitive primary.
After dropping his 2024 presidential bid and a brief role co-leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Ohio governorship offers Ramaswamy a path to rebuild his political influence. A successful run would make him the state’s first minority governor and position him for future national office [6][8].
Ramaswamy faces skepticism over his thin Ohio roots—he grew up near Cincinnati but spent years on Wall Street—and his reliance on Trump’s endorsement in a state where the former president remains popular but has not yet formally backed him [1][4]. Polls show early Republican voter support, but opponents like Yost will highlight Ramaswamy’s lack of governing experience [1][6].
