TOLEDO, Ohio — Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and former presidential candidate from Cincinnati, is intensifying efforts to secure the Ohio Republican Party’s endorsement for the 2026 gubernatorial race. With nearly a year until voters head to the polls, Ramaswamy and his supporters are urging the Ohio GOP to formally back his campaign during the upcoming meeting of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee this Friday.
Ramaswamy has already built a robust coalition of support, including endorsements from several statewide elected officials and a majority of GOP lawmakers in both chambers of the Ohio legislature. His campaign is gaining momentum, and he’s positioning himself as the frontrunner for the party’s nomination.
The decision at Friday’s meeting will be a critical one for the party, as it will determine whether the GOP will endorse a candidate this early in the race or opt for a neutral position until closer to the primary. While Ramaswamy pushes for early backing, other GOP figures, such as Attorney General Dave Yost and entrepreneur Heather Hill, are also vying for the nomination. Yost, in particular, has made it clear that he intends to remain in the race, emphasizing that he’s “in this until Election Day.”
Yost, who has not openly supported an early endorsement, shared his thoughts on social media, stating that the GOP’s role is not to “anoint nominees” but to support the chosen candidate after the primary. His comments reflect the ongoing tension within the party regarding the endorsement question.
Adding fuel to Ramaswamy’s push for an early endorsement, Donald Trump Jr. took to social media this week to urge members of the central committee to back the entrepreneur. In his post, Trump Jr. reminded the committee of their previous support for his father, Donald Trump, in the last election cycle and emphasized the urgency of backing Ramaswamy, citing the need for fresh leadership in Ohio and across the nation.
“I understand that early endorsements aren’t the norm, but these are not ordinary times,” Trump Jr. wrote. “We have a country to save, and we don’t have any time or money to waste. President Trump endorsed Vivek, in one of his very first 2026 endorsements, for a reason: We need Vivek in Ohio, and Ohio needs Vivek as its Governor.”
The endorsement debate has stirred internal GOP dynamics, with some key figures, including Governor Mike DeWine, reportedly working behind the scenes to prevent the party from making an early endorsement. Ohio Auditor Keith Faber and Secretary of State Frank LaRose, however, are among those publicly advocating for Ramaswamy’s candidacy, signaling a divide within the GOP establishment on the best path forward.
While Ramaswamy has received strong backing from influential Republicans like U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, who has endorsed him for his vision for Ohio, Moreno has stayed neutral on whether the party should officially weigh in on the primary contest. Moreno stressed the importance of party unity, stating that it is vital for Republicans to stay united in order to advance their agenda in Ohio.
As the campaign for governor unfolds, Ramaswamy continues to travel across the state, headlining Lincoln Day dinners and securing support from key Republican figures. His focus remains on positioning himself as the outsider candidate who can bring fresh perspectives to Ohio’s political landscape.
Polling data from Bowling Green State University shows Ramaswamy with a commanding lead in the GOP primary race, with 64% of Republican voters naming him as their top choice. His closest competitor in the poll is Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, who has not yet declared his candidacy but garnered 14% of the vote. Yost follows with 13%.
With Ramaswamy leading in the polls and rallying support across the state, the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the trajectory of the Republican race for governor. Whether the Ohio GOP chooses to formally endorse Ramaswamy or remain neutral, the decision will have lasting implications as the state heads into a high-stakes election cycle.