American businessman and politician Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for the Ohio governor’s race on Tuesday, May 5, and will now face Democratic candidate Amy Acton in the general election. Ramaswamy secured strong backing from US President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party during his campaign.
Trump’s endorsement continues to carry significant influence in Ohio, a state he has won in all three of his presidential campaigns. However, political analysts believe Ramaswamy could face challenges in the general election amid criticism of the Trump administration over rising living costs and tensions related to the Iran conflict.
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Acton, a former Ohio health director, rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic due to her role in the state’s public health response. Democrats are hopeful she can help the party return to the governor’s office for the first time since 2006.
Ramaswamy is contesting the election alongside his running mate, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, while Acton’s running mate is former Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper.
Who Is Vivek Ramaswamy?
The 40-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur-turned-politician was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a Tamil Hindu family whose parents immigrated from Kerala, India. He gained national attention during the 2024 US presidential election, where he contested for the Republican nomination before later endorsing Donald Trump.
Ramaswamy’s father, V. Ganapathy Ramaswamy, worked as an engineer and patent attorney for General Electric, while his mother, Geetha Ramaswamy, is a geriatric psychiatrist.
Education and Career
Ramaswamy graduated from Harvard University and later earned a law degree from Yale Law School. He is the founder of biotech company Roivant Sciences, which he established in 2014.
He is known for his conservative political views and criticism of corporate diversity and “woke” policies. During the 2024 presidential race, he positioned himself as a strong supporter of Trump-era policies.