Vivek Ramaswamy is preparing to announce his candidacy for governor of Ohio next week and is stepping down from his role in President Donald Trump’s incoming Department of Government Efficiency, commonly referred to as DOGE. This news was shared by two individuals with knowledge of the situation, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity.
The possibility of Ramaswamy running for office in Ohio has been widely speculated, but his decision to leave DOGE signals a significant shift in his priorities. DOGE, a federal initiative aimed at monitoring and improving government spending, was a project he was slated to co-lead alongside billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. “He’s leaving DOGE. He’s going to announce early next week for governor,” said one source familiar with the decision. “It became increasingly clear over the last week that pursuing the governor’s race and running DOGE was not compatible. He’s leaving on good terms with Trump, Elon and the team.”
A post shared by Ramaswamy on X appeared to mark this abrupt pivot from his federal responsibilities to his state-level ambitions. “A new dawn,” he captioned a photo of himself with Musk, posted Monday around the time his departure from DOGE became public.
Trump’s transition team offered high praise for Ramaswamy’s contributions to DOGE in a statement issued by spokesperson Anna Kelly. “He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure that we announced today,” Kelly said. “We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last 2 months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again!”
Ramaswamy, a successful biotech entrepreneur, made headlines last year when he briefly entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination, challenging Trump before eventually becoming one of his strongest supporters. He had previously announced he was putting his political aspirations in Ohio on pause to lead the DOGE initiative.
Earlier, Ramaswamy had removed himself from consideration for an appointment to the Senate seat left vacant by Vice President-elect JD Vance. However, he unexpectedly emerged as a contender for the position last week, even meeting with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Ultimately, the seat went to Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, a decision that reshaped Ohio’s political landscape and disrupted the 2026 race for governor.
Husted had been a frontrunner to succeed DeWine, who cannot run again due to term limits. Meanwhile, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and State Treasurer Robert Sprague, both Republicans with statewide recognition, were already laying the groundwork for their own gubernatorial campaigns. Ramaswamy’s entry into the race is expected to accelerate their efforts.
At a Sunday night inaugural ball for Ohio Republicans, Ramaswamy made an appearance but left noticeably early. According to three attendees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, his brief presence raised eyebrows among party insiders. “He can’t bother to spend more than 45 minutes with 1,400 of the most influential Republicans in Ohio,” one GOP leader remarked. “It’s next-level arrogance.”
Ramaswamy’s actions and timing suggest that his gubernatorial campaign is on the horizon, setting the stage for a competitive and high-profile race in Ohio.
{Matzav.com}