Ramaswamy floats running for Ohio governor

Former Indian American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy turned supporter of Republican nominee Donald Trump says he would weigh running for governor of Ohio, after consulting with the former President.

Ramaswamy spoke about his plans during a town hall in Springfield, Ohio, Thursday where Ramaswamy discussed the city’s recent influx of migrants, when one attendee asked whether he would consider running for governor in the upcoming 2026 election.

“I’m a little more inclined than I was about 10 seconds ago,” Ramaswamy answered after enthusiastic applause from the audience, sbgtv.com reported.

READ: Fox News taps Vivek Ramaswamy to host Fox Nation series (September 17, 2024)

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is ineligible for reelection in 2026, having already served two terms in office.

The small Ohio city entered the national spotlight this month over a massive influx of Haitian arrivals, sparking rumors some were hunting and eating pets. Local officials have rejected those claims. Unlike Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Ramaswamy blamed the federal government, not the migrants, for the immigration crisis impacting the area.

“After meeting with a bunch of them today, I don’t even blame the 12,000 to 20,000 Haitian migrants who were brought here by unconscionable means. I blame the federal policies,” he was quoted as saying.

“We sat there for an hour with the city council after we met with the Haitian group. I think they really do care, at least the subset I met with. I think the reason they’re not here is not because they don’t care about it; I think it’s because they’re scared.”

READ: Could Nikki Haley or Vivek Ramaswamy be Trump’s VP pick? (June 29, 2024)

In July, Ramaswamy weighed the possibility of filling the US Senate seat of Vance in the event he is elected vice president in November.

“To be frank, I would strongly consider it if I were asked to serve, but I would also want to have a serious conversation with President Trump about the other ways that I could have an impact on the country,” Ramaswamy said.

If Trump were to be elected in November, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine would be allowed to appoint an interim senator in Vance’s place until the state could hold a special election. Ramaswamy said the governor has not reached out to discuss such a situation.