Entrepreneur Heather Hill is the one remaining competitor for Ramaswamy in Ohio’s Republican Major Subsequent Might.
Every week after the Ohio Republican Social gathering voted to endorse President Donald Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Legal professional Basic Dave Yost suspended his gubernatorial marketing campaign on Might 16.
In an e mail to supporters, the 68-year-old Yost mentioned he’ll “proceed to struggle for Ohio” as legal professional normal by means of the top of his time period in January 2027.
Yost didn’t instantly endorse his rival. On Might 9, after the state GOP endorsed Ramaswamy, Yost urged the group had engaged in “a untimely coronation of an untested candidate.”
The Ohio Republican major in 2026 is on Might 5. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who’s term-limited, cautioned final week that one 12 months is “a lifetime” in politics.
Yost wrote that “a steep climb to the nomination for governor has change into a vertical cliff.”
“I don’t want to divide my political get together or my state with a quixotic battle over the small variations between my imaginative and prescient and that of my opponent. I’m merely not that vital,” Yost added.
Amy Acton, who served as Ohio’s public well being director throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, is operating as a Democrat.
Hypothesis is mounting that former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) will enter the Democratic major. Brown misplaced his reelection bid final November when he was defeated by Trump-endorsed Bernie Moreno.
“The comeback try by Sherrod Brown represents an actual and current hazard to Ohio’s prosperity. Our state has challenges forward, however we’re not Washington, D.C. Columbus wants re-engineering, not demolition,” Yost wrote.
“Sherrod Brown and the dangerous progressive concepts of his get together will unwind the entire good that the final 15 years of Republican management has introduced. It is a time to guard Ohio, not a time for a household squabble,” he added.
Ramaswamy praised Yost in a Might 16 assertion after the announcement.
“Congratulations to Dave on operating a considerate marketing campaign. He has served Ohio with nice dedication, and I’m assured he’ll proceed to play an vital function in shaping the way forward for our state and our nation,” Ramaswamy mentioned.
Vivek Ramaswamy joins his spouse, Apoorva Ramaswamy, on stage throughout his announcement to run for Ohio governor on Feb. 24, 2025. Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Instances
Ramaswamy introduced his gubernatorial bid on Feb. 24, a transfer that had been anticipated for a number of weeks since he left his function with the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) on the primary day of Trump’s new time period.
Born to Indian dad and mom, Ramaswamy earned levels at Harvard College and Yale Legislation Faculty earlier than he gained success as an funding companion for hedge fund QVT Monetary, based Roivant Sciences, and co-founded his personal funding agency, Try Asset Administration.
He first rose to nationwide prominence along with his 2021 e book “Woke Inc: Inside Company America’s Social Justice Rip-off.”
Throughout his presidential marketing campaign, Ramaswamy outlined 10 core beliefs, led by “God is actual,” adopted by “there are two genders,” in his 2024 e book ”Truths: The Way forward for America First.”
Ramaswamy had proven curiosity within the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was thought-about a frontrunner to change into Ohio’s subsequent governor till DeWine appointed him as Vance’s successor.
Husted faces a particular election in 2026 to retain his seat for the rest of Vance’s unexpired time period. On Might 9, the state GOP additionally voted to endorse Husted.
Ohio is a state that Trump decisively received in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Republicans have a supermajority within the state legislature.
Entrepreneur Heather Hill is now Ramaswamy’s lone competitors within the Republican major.
“My coronary heart goes out to the Republican candidates who really feel compelled to drop out of the race as a result of RNC/GOP’s unfair bias in the direction of one candidate,” Hill mentioned in an announcement after the Might 9 vote.
“I need to reassure Ohioans that I cannot quit. I’ll struggle tirelessly daily to make sure my identify is heard and that I prioritize the most effective pursuits of all Ohioans,” she added.
Some Republican strategists assume that former Ohio State College soccer coach Jim Tressel will ultimately announce his candidacy to exchange DeWine.
Earlier this 12 months, DeWine appointed Tressel as lieutenant governor to exchange Jon Husted, who was tapped by DeWine to fill JD Vance’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.
On the information convention saying his new function, Tressel was requested by reporters if he would run for governor.
“I haven’t given any thought in opposition to it however I haven’t given any thought to it both,” Tressel, who additionally served as president of Youngstown State College in northeast Ohio, mentioned. “I’ve been centered on what the governor would really like me to study and what the governor would really like me to do.”
Tressel, who was the pinnacle coach of the Ohio State nationwide championship group in 2002, mentioned final week that he hasn’t dominated out operating. The submitting deadline is Feb. 4.
The Related Press contributed to this report.