Term-limited Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) is reportedly moving to block the state GOP from endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy as the next Republican governor candidate, according to sources familiar with the state's politics.
President Donald Trump endorsed Ramaswamy the same night he announced he would run for governor, so the move places DeWine in direct opposition to the president, not to mention Vice President J.D. Vance, who is also from Ohio and has directed his staff to provide support for Ramaswamy's campaign.
It's the second time DeWine has opposed Trump's endorsed nominee: he also did so with Bernie Moreno, who was endorsed by Trump for Senate and who did win the race in 2024.
Some sources say DeWine wants his lieutenant governor, Ohio State football legend Jim Tressel, to succeed him.
“I think he would like to forestall an endorsement taking place, because I think he would like to see if he can convince Jim Tressel to run for governor,” an Ohio Republican leader said of DeWine.
According to his spokesman, the governor is focused on state budget negotiations.
DeWine has also said it's too early to endorse a candidate.
“As far as who I endorse in the Republican primary for Governor, it is much too early, as we do not even know who all will be in the race. We are now 364 days away from the primary and 293 days away from the filing deadline. In politics, this is a lifetime!” the governor noted in a statement.
Two-thirds of the state party’s 66-member central committee must vote to endorse a candidate.
Ramaswamy currently leads polling in the race, but it is still very early.
An ally of Ramaswamy told Breitbart that DeWine is going to be remembered for being wrong on every fight within the GOP.
“If Trump backs you, DeWine’s guaranteed to take the losing side. The establishment isn’t just out of touch — it’s out of time. And the state central committee will prove that again this Friday,” the ally remarked.
“There’s not a unified opposition to the endorsement,” a committee member said.
If Tressel were to run, a point of opposition against him is that he supported DEI policies when he worked at Youngstown University.
