How Trump appointment affects Ramaswamy’s political future in Ohio

Ohio’s Vivek Ramaswamy said late Tuesday he would not seek to fill Sen, JD Vance’s soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Ramaswamy’s post on X came after President-elect Donald Trump tapped the Evendale native, as well as Elon Musk, to lead a group that will recommend cuts to the federal budget.
“And yes, this means I’m withdrawing myself from consideration for the pending Senate appointment in Ohio,” Ramaswamy posted on X Tuesday. “Whoever Gov. DeWine appoints to JD’s seat has some big shoes to fill. I will help them however I can.”
Ramaswamy mounted an unsuccessful bid against Trump during the 2024 GOP primary, but he cemented himself as a key ally of the president-elect after he dropped out of the race. On the campaign trail, he called for shutting down the Department of Education, FBI and other government agencies.
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Since then, many observers have cast the 39-year-old as instrumental to the Republican Party’s future. Ramaswamy had several job prospects before him, including a potential Senate appointment to replace Vance.
He’s also been floated as a potential candidate for governor in 2026 − something that could still happen, given the timeline for the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
Per state law, Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint someone to fill Vance’s seat until 2026. Voters will then elect someone to fill out the remaining two years of Vance’s term.