DeWine and Ramaswamy Discuss Ohio Senate Appointment
The DOGE co-leader had previously withdrawn from contention for the position.
TroibNews 
Two months after withdrawing from the race for an Ohio Senate seat, Vivek Ramaswamy is being considered for the position, as reported by two individuals familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity to share details on the ongoing conversations.
Over the weekend, Ramaswamy met with Governor Mike DeWine at the governor's mansion to discuss the vacancy left by President-elect JD Vance, according to one source.
Ramaswamy's renewed interest in the Senate seat follows a nearly two-week hiatus from social media, which came after he made controversial remarks that angered MAGA activists online. He had commented on H-1B visas, stating that tech companies hire foreign workers in part due to an American cultural attitude that has “venerated mediocrity over excellence.”
The timing of his apparent pivot has led to speculation among GOP insiders that he might be seeking a new opportunity after facing pushback over his remarks. Previously, he had distanced himself from the Senate contention while also taking on a significant role in President-elect Donald Trump’s cost-cutting initiatives with Elon Musk in the Department of Government Efficiency.
Requests for comments from Trump’s transition team were not immediately answered.
Despite expressing interest in remaining with DOGE and potentially considering a gubernatorial run, Ramaswamy's profile has risen and he is also being evaluated for the Senate appointment.
Musk, Ramaswamy, and Trump reportedly agree that the group requires an advocate within the Senate.
If appointed to the Senate, Ramaswamy could pave the way for Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to establish a clearer path to succeed DeWine by removing a possible rival. “DeWine isn’t incentivized to pick Ramaswamy for Senate, but Vivek is also the one roadblock to Husted,” the source noted.
Last month, Dewine took Husted to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, as reported by the Ohio Capital Journal.
DeWine has previously indicated a desire for a candidate who can win the special election in 2026 to complete Vance's term and secure the Senate seat again in 2028.
One Trump ally, who asked to remain unnamed due to the sensitivity of the issue, cautioned that Ramaswamy's statements regarding American culture could complicate his chances for the Senate nomination. "The problem now is that he is damaged goods," the person stated.
DeWine may announce his decision as soon as this week, as he mentioned to reporters during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago last week, alongside other Republican governors.
"Neither Governor DeWine nor our office has commented on any possible candidates for the pending appointment," said DeWine’s Press Secretary Dan Tierney in a statement to PMG.
A Senate appointment would enable Ramaswamy, 39, to engage in efforts to reduce federal spending from within Congress, while Musk continues to push for these goals externally, according to another source close to Ramaswamy's thinking. This role would also allow Ramaswamy to advocate for DOGE priorities against anticipated opposition from Senate Democrats, leveraging his strong debating skills.
Ramaswamy has been unusually silent on social media following a contentious debate among different MAGA factions over H-1B visas that began earlier in the year.
His endorsement of the temporary visa program for highly skilled foreign workers faced significant backlash from right-wing figures such as Steve Bannon, Laura Loomer, and Jack Posobiec, despite Trump eventually voicing support for the program.
“Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long. That doesn't start in college; it starts YOUNG,” Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, expressed on X. “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ … will not produce the best engineers.”
Ramaswamy previously ran for the GOP presidential nomination in the 2024 cycle, where he raised his national profile and resonated with certain GOP voters by aligning himself with Trump and promoting "America First" policies. His campaign proposals included cutting 1 million government jobs, ending birthright citizenship, and raising the voting age to 25.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Over the weekend, Ramaswamy met with Governor Mike DeWine at the governor's mansion to discuss the vacancy left by President-elect JD Vance, according to one source.
Ramaswamy's renewed interest in the Senate seat follows a nearly two-week hiatus from social media, which came after he made controversial remarks that angered MAGA activists online. He had commented on H-1B visas, stating that tech companies hire foreign workers in part due to an American cultural attitude that has “venerated mediocrity over excellence.”
The timing of his apparent pivot has led to speculation among GOP insiders that he might be seeking a new opportunity after facing pushback over his remarks. Previously, he had distanced himself from the Senate contention while also taking on a significant role in President-elect Donald Trump’s cost-cutting initiatives with Elon Musk in the Department of Government Efficiency.
Requests for comments from Trump’s transition team were not immediately answered.
Despite expressing interest in remaining with DOGE and potentially considering a gubernatorial run, Ramaswamy's profile has risen and he is also being evaluated for the Senate appointment.
Musk, Ramaswamy, and Trump reportedly agree that the group requires an advocate within the Senate.
If appointed to the Senate, Ramaswamy could pave the way for Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to establish a clearer path to succeed DeWine by removing a possible rival. “DeWine isn’t incentivized to pick Ramaswamy for Senate, but Vivek is also the one roadblock to Husted,” the source noted.
Last month, Dewine took Husted to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, as reported by the Ohio Capital Journal.
DeWine has previously indicated a desire for a candidate who can win the special election in 2026 to complete Vance's term and secure the Senate seat again in 2028.
One Trump ally, who asked to remain unnamed due to the sensitivity of the issue, cautioned that Ramaswamy's statements regarding American culture could complicate his chances for the Senate nomination. "The problem now is that he is damaged goods," the person stated.
DeWine may announce his decision as soon as this week, as he mentioned to reporters during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago last week, alongside other Republican governors.
"Neither Governor DeWine nor our office has commented on any possible candidates for the pending appointment," said DeWine’s Press Secretary Dan Tierney in a statement to PMG.
A Senate appointment would enable Ramaswamy, 39, to engage in efforts to reduce federal spending from within Congress, while Musk continues to push for these goals externally, according to another source close to Ramaswamy's thinking. This role would also allow Ramaswamy to advocate for DOGE priorities against anticipated opposition from Senate Democrats, leveraging his strong debating skills.
Ramaswamy has been unusually silent on social media following a contentious debate among different MAGA factions over H-1B visas that began earlier in the year.
His endorsement of the temporary visa program for highly skilled foreign workers faced significant backlash from right-wing figures such as Steve Bannon, Laura Loomer, and Jack Posobiec, despite Trump eventually voicing support for the program.
“Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long. That doesn't start in college; it starts YOUNG,” Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, expressed on X. “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ … will not produce the best engineers.”
Ramaswamy previously ran for the GOP presidential nomination in the 2024 cycle, where he raised his national profile and resonated with certain GOP voters by aligning himself with Trump and promoting "America First" policies. His campaign proposals included cutting 1 million government jobs, ending birthright citizenship, and raising the voting age to 25.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
