Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has stepped down from his role at President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, as confirmed by a source close to the multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur. Ramaswamy, who was appointed alongside Elon Musk in November by Trump to lead DOGE, is reportedly gearing up to launch a Republican campaign for Ohio governor early next week.
The current GOP Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, is term-limited and ineligible for re-election in 2026. Following DeWine's announcement that Lt. Gov. Jon Husted would be filling the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former Sen. JD Vance, Husted had originally planned to run for governor in 2026. Ramaswamy, on the other hand, had shown interest in serving in the Senate.
DeWine's decision to appoint Husted to the Senate seat seems to have expedited Ramaswamy's decision to pursue the governorship. Ramaswamy, aged 39, gained prominence during his presidential campaign in February 2023, advocating for an 'America First 2.0' agenda and earning Trump's support as one of his key rivals.
After ending his White House bid following a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy endorsed Trump and became a prominent campaign surrogate. His departure from DOGE now paves the way for Musk, Trump's top donor and ally, to lead the initiative independently.
Ramaswamy's exit from DOGE comes on the heels of controversy surrounding his and Musk's endorsement of H-1B temporary worker visas, which drew criticism from some of Trump's staunch supporters. Ramaswamy's remarks about American culture valuing mediocrity over excellence faced backlash from far-right figures.
Ohio, once a battleground state in general elections, has shifted towards the Republican Party over the past decade, with Republicans dominating statewide elections.
