Trump Ally Ramaswami Wins Ohio Governor Primary, Will Face Democrat Covid Chief

Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for governor of Ohio on Tuesday, setting up a general election race against Democrat Amy Acton, the former state health director who became one of the most visible figures in Ohio’s Covid-19 response.

Ramaswamy, a health-technology entrepreneur and close ally of President Donald Trump, defeated Casey Putsch, a car designer and automotive YouTuber, according to unofficial results reported by US media outlets. His victory had been widely expected after he entered the race with strong name recognition, Trump’s backing and much of the Republican field already cleared.

In a victory speech, Ramaswamy thanked Ohio voters “for getting us to this point,” but said the campaign’s focus was already shifting to the general election. “The real destination is in November,” he said.

Acton, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, said in her own victory speech that she was running to make Ohio more affordable and to put working families first. “It shouldn’t be this hard,” she said.

The race will decide who succeeds Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is barred from seeking another term because of term limits. DeWine has endorsed Ramaswamy.

Trump praised Ramaswamy in a social media post Tuesday, calling him “Young, Strong, and Smart.” Vice President JD Vance, who represented Ohio in the US Senate before becoming vice president, traveled to Cincinnati to vote for Ramaswamy and other Republican candidates.

Ramaswamy rose to national prominence during the 2024 Republican presidential primary, where his combative debate performances and heavy use of social media made him a prominent figure even as his campaign failed to gain lasting voter support. After ending his presidential bid, he endorsed Trump, became a major surrogate and was involved in the early effort to launch Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency before Elon Musk took control of the project.

His campaign for governor has also been boosted by his personal wealth. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Ramaswamy loaned his campaign $25 million.

The general election is expected to focus heavily on Acton’s record during the pandemic. As Ohio’s health director under DeWine, Acton helped guide the state’s response, including restrictions on in-person dining and the postponement of Ohio’s 2020 presidential primary.

Ramaswamy has already attacked Acton over those decisions, releasing an ad accusing her of calling off the election and abusing her power. DeWine later defended Acton, saying the decision was his and that he had directed her to issue the health order.

The Ohio race comes as Trump-backed challengers also targeted Republican state senators in Indiana who opposed his redistricting plan last year. Five challengers defeated incumbents Tuesday, one lost, and one race remained undecided.