Wealthy biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has won the Ohio Republican primary for governor, The Associated Press called the race.
Ramaswamy pursued an aggressive but conventional path to the nomination. On President Trump’s inauguration day, he announced his departure from the administration’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, and Trump immediately proclaimed his “complete and total endorsement.”
Ramaswamy defeated Casey Putsch, a northwest Ohio car designer and racing team owner new to politics, who had attacked Ramaswamy over his South Asian heritage.
Democrat Dr. Amy Acton will face Ramaswamy in November. In red Ohio, where a Democrat has not been elected governor in 20 years, the contest is viewed as competitive. The Cook Political Report moved the race from “likely Republican” to “leans Republican.” Ramaswamy also brings substantial personal wealth and has raised large sums for his campaign.
Acton, a former state health director appointed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019, was a central figure in Ohio’s COVID response, signing orders that limited gatherings, closed nonessential businesses and shut K–12 schools. Republicans have labeled her “Dr. Lockdown” and criticized her pandemic-era actions. DeWine has defended the decisions as gubernatorial and has nonetheless endorsed Ramaswamy.
Acton’s campaign emphasizes the high cost of living, proposing child tax credits, lower prescription drug and utility costs, and measures to help Ohioans remain on Medicaid.
When Ramaswamy launched his campaign in February 2025, he called for eliminating property taxes. He has since softened that stance, now proposing what he calls the largest rollback of property taxes in Ohio history. He has also raised concern with proposals to consolidate or close some public universities in the state.