• Elon Musk and Donald Trump endorse Vivek Ramaswamy in his campaign for Ohio governor.
• Ramaswamy aims to implement conservative policies, including work requirements for Medicaid and civics education for students.
• Polls indicate Ramaswamy is the frontrunner among Republican candidates in Ohio.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, has officially declared his candidacy for governor of Ohio in the 2026 elections. He kicked off his campaign with endorsements from both Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which fortify his position as a leading candidate within the Republican primaries.

At a campaign launch event held in Cincinnati, Ramaswamy highlighted his vision for Ohio, declaring, "I will lead Ohio to be the top state in the country where patriots across America actually flock to instead of Florida and Texas.” He expressed a commitment to reviving "America First" sentiments through his policies, noting that "President Trump is reviving our conviction in America" and emphasizing the need for leadership that reflects these ideals.

Ramaswamy's proposal includes implementing mandatory work requirements for Medicaid and introducing a civics test akin to that required for naturalization, impacting high school seniors in Ohio. He argued that understanding American history and government is essential for fostering respect and pride among young citizens, stating, "You can’t respect a country if you don’t know the basic things about it," he added.

Polling data suggests Ramaswamy is currently leading other Republican contenders, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, with a significant margin among likely primary voters. Previous surveys have indicated him garnering over 52% support compared to Yost's 18%. Ramaswamy's campaign is also buoyed by Trump's backing, who called him "something special" on his social media platform, stating, “He will be a GREAT Governor of Ohio and never let you down!" and reinforced by Musk's endorsement of “Good luck, you have my full endorsement!”

Ramaswamy aims to navigate Ohio's political landscape, traditionally dominated by candidates with extensive government experience, using a Trump-like approach as he taps into widespread GOP support. He represents a new wave of candidates striving to reshape Ohio's political landscape as a solidly red state in recent election cycles, following Trump's electoral success there.

As Ramaswamy embarks on this political journey, he will be competing in what promises to be a contentious GOP primary. His campaign is keenly positioned to resonate with conservative voters who favor pro-business policies, reflecting a growing trend of outsider candidates following in Trump's footsteps.

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