Vivek Ramaswamy is officially entering the race to become Ohio’s next governor, campaigning on a pledge to bring DOGE-style reforms to the Buckeye State. The former leader of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) resigned last month to prepare for a serious gubernatorial bid, which he plans to formally announce later on Monday.
In an interview ahead of his campaign launch, Ramaswamy, 39, emphasized that his vision extends beyond cutting government waste, urging voters to see his platform as a broader effort to reshape Ohio’s governance. “There are a lot of people sort of eager to sort of make that analogy and characterization,” Ramaswamy said. “But I think I characterize my vision for Ohio expansively.” Still, he added that he believes cutting state government spending and waste will be “wildly” popular among residents.
“I think the way we’re going to do it in Ohio, the way we’re going to run the state, is going to be, I believe, wildly popular with everyone who is a parent and has skin in the game for the next generation,” Ramaswamy said. While announcing his departure from DOGE, the former Republican presidential candidate stated that he, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump mutually agreed that remaining a federal employee would limit his ability to run for office.
“President Trump, Elon and I had a great relationship but talked about exactly where each of us was going to drive maximum change for the country,” Ramaswamy said. “And, for me, I believe that leading from the front here in Ohio and setting an example for the rest of the country and, frankly, even bringing some of the principles of efficiency and spending and deregulation to our state would be the way that I as a leader would be able to have the biggest impact.”
A key challenge for Vivek Ramaswamy in his gubernatorial bid will be persuading voters that his plans to downsize Ohio’s government will not diminish public resources considered essential by the majority of residents. Ohio has a significant share of the federal workforce, according to NBC News, and recent polling indicates that public opinion is divided on whether President Trump and Elon Musk have gone “too far” with some Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts—51% of respondents expressed concerns.
Ramaswamy is set to launch his campaign on Monday night in Cincinnati as part of a statewide announcement tour. His entry into the race has shaken up the Republican field vying to replace Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term-limited. Other potential contenders include Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, the former Ohio State football coach handpicked by DeWine as his deputy, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who officially entered the race last month amid growing speculation about Ramaswamy’s candidacy.
