USA
Vivek Ramaswamy Wins Republican Primary for Ohio Governor: Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has secured a decisive victory in the Republican primary race for governor of Ohio, strengthening his position as one of the rising figures in American conservative politics.
Ramaswamy, who received an early endorsement from Donald Trump, defeated businessman Casey Putsch with an overwhelming 87 percent of the vote. He will now face Democratic candidate Amy Acton, a physician and former Ohio health director, in the November general election. Acton ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The victory marks another significant milestone for Ramaswamy, who gained national prominence during the 2024 Republican presidential race through his outspoken positions on government reform, business innovation, and conservative policies.
Earlier, Trump had appointed Ramaswamy alongside entrepreneur Elon Musk as co-heads of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative focused on reducing bureaucracy and improving federal efficiency. However, Ramaswamy’s role lasted only about a month amid reported differences with Musk, the founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and owner of the social platform X.
Following his departure, Ramaswamy shifted his focus toward state politics and soon secured Trump’s backing for the Ohio gubernatorial race.
If elected in November, Ramaswamy would become the third Indian American governor in US history after Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley, both Republicans. He would also become the first Hindu governor in the United States.
Political analysts note that Ohio’s recent voting trends could work in Ramaswamy’s favor. The state has not elected a Democratic governor in more than three decades, and Donald Trump carried Ohio by a double-digit margin during the 2024 presidential election.
The campaign, however, was not without controversy. Opponent Casey Putsch drew criticism over remarks widely condemned as racist. In a social media post, Putsch made derogatory references targeting Ramaswamy’s Indian heritage and questioned his citizenship despite Ramaswamy being born in the United States.
Ramaswamy, 40, is the son of Indian immigrants. His father, Vadakanchery Ganapathy Ramaswamy, worked as an engineer for General Electric, while his mother is a psychiatrist. A graduate of Yale University, Ramaswamy built his fortune through business ventures in biotechnology and finance.
After beginning his career in hedge funds, he founded Roivant Sciences, a biotechnology company, and later launched Strive Asset Management. According to Forbes, his estimated net worth stands at approximately $2.5 billion.
With his combination of business credentials, national political profile, and strong Republican backing, Ramaswamy is now set for what is expected to be one of the closely watched gubernatorial contests in the United States this year.
