Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has supported Vivek Ramaswamy for governor of Ohio.
Ramaswamy launched his 2026 governorship campaign, officially on February 24th. He was a 2024 primary presidential candidate and briefly served as co-chair of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump threw his support behind Ramaswamy’s bid nearly immediately, and now the biotech entrepreneur has received another key endorsement from Moreno, one of the Buckeye State’s two senators.
Moreno said that Viek was an America-First Outsider who would make Ohio one of the most desirable states to work, live, and raise a child.
He added, “I am proud to endorse a leader who is bold to become the next governor of Ohio.”
Moreno revealed that he would be endorsing Ramaswamy during an event on Saturday evening. Ramaswamy shared a video of Moreno saying that the first and only moral duty of U.S. officials is their citizens. Ramaswamy said, “Senator Bernie Moreno knows that and doesn’t apologize. It’s an honor to have his support tonight. He is a rising star in the U.S. Senate. We’re going to make sure that our party in Ohio is not divided.”
John Husted from Ohio filled the vacated Vice President JD Vance’s seat. Some political analysts believe that Ramaswamy, who was formerly Ohio’s lieutenant governor, accepted the Senate nomination because of Trump’s expected backing and Ramaswamy’s strong funding. Husted had been considered the frontrunner in the race for governor.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who is regarded as a more establishment Republican, appointed Jim Tressell as the new lieutenant governor. Tressell is a well-known former Ohio State Buckeyes coach. Tressell’s political future is unclear.
Trump’s timing was intriguing to Ohio political watchers who had watched his decision to comment on important statewide elections over the last several years go from months to days to more than one year.
Robert Clegg is a Republican advisor who has been in Ohio for many years. He told the Associated Press that it could be a message to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Yost may also have been referring to Tressell. Clegg stated that it was too early to expect an endorsement. He said, “I expected one maybe in the autumn or in January.” I wonder if President Obama doesn’t mind a knockdown-drag-out Ohio primary.
Trump teased Republican candidates until 19 days prior to the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Ohio. He then backed Vance, pushing him all the way to the end of the race for the GOP nomination. Vance won the fall general election to fill the Senate seat. Trump endorsed Moreno in the Senate race a year after that, three months prior to the primaries. Moreno won both the primaries and general elections.
Ramaswamy is likely to benefit from Trump’s support in his early campaigns, as the state has overwhelmingly voted three times for Trump. Ramaswamy also secured the support of key advisors who had assisted Vance in his Senate campaign for 2022, and two current statewide representatives and conservatives from across the country, such as Utah Senator Mike Lee, Florida Senate Rick Scott, and Tennessee Senate Marsha Blackburn.