January 16th 2025.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, has set his sights on the vacant US Senate seat in Ohio, previously held by Vice President-elect JD Vance. The 39-year-old biotech entrepreneur, hailing from Cincinnati, had initially been considering a run for Ohio governor in 2026. However, he was presented with a unique opportunity to partner with billionaire Elon Musk in a non-governmental initiative aimed at reducing federal government spending, regulations, and personnel.
In recent weeks, Ramaswamy has had discussions with President-elect Donald Trump about potentially filling the Ohio Senate seat, as confirmed by one of the sources. Apparently, Trump saw Ramaswamy as a suitable candidate due to his alignment with the president-elect's goal of streamlining the federal bureaucracy. The sources, who were privy to Ramaswamy's interest in the seat, spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect the privacy of their conversation.
At this time, the transition team for President-elect Trump has not responded to requests for comment. The current governor of Ohio, Republican Mike DeWine, will be responsible for appointing Vance's successor. Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022, is set to be sworn in as Vice President on Monday. The person appointed by DeWine will hold the position until December 2026 and will need to run again in November of that year to secure the remainder of the term.
In a statement, Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for the governor's office, stated that neither DeWine nor their office has commented on any potential candidates for the appointment. Ramaswamy, who ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination as an outsider, suspended his campaign after finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses. He went on to endorse Trump and became a prominent supporter, hosting fundraisers in key battleground states.
Although Ramaswamy had initially expressed interest in the Senate seat after the election, he had withdrawn his name from consideration as he was approached to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. This outside effort, in partnership with Musk, aimed to significantly reduce the size and cost of the government. A spokesperson for Ramaswamy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Washington Post was the first to report on Ramaswamy's renewed interest in the Senate seat.
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