Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy joins the Ohio governor’s race [Video]

Former U.S. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy announced Monday that he is running for Ohio governor, a move that comes just over month after he stepped down as co-leader of a government efficiency effort in the Trump White House. (AP Video / Feb. 24, 2025)

By Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Vivek Ramaswamy, the Cincinnati-born biotech entrepreneur who departed the Department of Government Efficiency initiative on President Donald Trump’s first day, launched his bid for Ohio governor Monday with promises to institute work requirements for Medicaid and merit pay for all public school teachers and administrators.

Ramaswamy, 39, kicked off his campaign in Cincinnati, joining the 2026 Republican primary just a month after presumed front-runner and then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted left the running to take a U.S. Senate appointment.

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