Vivek Ramaswamy Wins GOP Nomination for Ohio Governor

Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in Tuesday's primary, CBS News projects.

He will face Democrat Amy Acton in November. Acton, a former Ohio Department of Public Health director, had no challengers in her primary.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. President Trump won Ohio by 11 points in 2024.

The 2025 Republican field had been expected to include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel. Yost dropped out after the Ohio Republican Party and Trump backed Ramaswamy. Tressel opted not to run, clearing the field for Ramaswamy.

Ramaswamy defeated Casey Putsch, a small business owner who uses the nickname "The Car Guy," in the primary. Morgan County school board member Heather Hill's name also appeared on the ballot. After her running mate withdrew, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that all votes for her will not be counted. State law requires candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to run together, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Ramaswamy, a biotech billionaire, gained national prominence in 2024 with an unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination.

He became a Trump ally after the 2024 election. Trump initially tapped him to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, with Elon Musk. Ramaswamy left the job-slashing department one day after Trump's inauguration. A DOGE spokesperson said he wanted to focus on his campaign.

Campaign finance filings show Ramaswamy raised $5 million in the first three months of 2026 and loaned himself $25 million, for $30 million cash on hand as of April. He told Fox News in 2025 that he would donate $30 million to his campaign.

Acton raised $5.1 million over the same period, with $3 million cash on hand.

Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio resident, said Tuesday that he voted for Ramaswamy.