The Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee voted on Friday to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, in a blow to Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH). DeWine reportedly worked behind the scenes to block the 66-member committee from backing Ramaswamy,

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Trump-endorsed biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy won the Ohio Republican Party’s gubernatorial endorsement on Friday, overcoming more experienced and potentially more popular rivals to land coveted institutional and monetary support nearly a year before the 2026 primary.

The endorsement, approved by a supermajority of the Ohio GOP’s State Central Committee, came despite lobbying by Ramaswamy’s main primary opponent, Attorney General Dave Yost, and a last-minute hint by Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel that he might consider joining the race.