Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday won the Republican primary for governor in the US state of Ohio, according to projections by NBC News, setting up a potentially competitive general election. The 40-year-old businessman and former presidential candidate defeated Casey Putsch, a political newcomer known for his automotive-themed content on YouTube. Putsch’s campaign was largely conducted on social media, with some posts drawing criticism for targeting Ramaswamy’s Indian-American background.
A third Republican contender, Heather Hill, was removed from the ballot after her running mate for lieutenant governor withdrew, in accordance with state law.
On the Democratic side, Amy Acton secured the nomination unopposed. She will run alongside David Pepper, a former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party.
Ramaswamy’s running mate is Rob McColley, the president of the Ohio Senate. The current governor, Mike DeWine, is unable to seek re-election due to term limits.
Recent polling suggests the general election could be closely contested, despite Ohio trending Republican in recent years. The state has not elected a Democratic governor in two decades. In 2022, DeWine was re-elected by a wide margin, defeating former Dayton mayor Nan Whaley by 25 percentage points.
Ramaswamy, who made his fortune in the biotechnology sector, gained national prominence during his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He withdrew from the race after the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Donald Trump, maintaining close ties with the former president’s political movement.
