Vivek Ramaswamy leads other Republicans in the Ohio gubernatorial primary, according to a new poll.

Why It Matters

Ramaswamy rose to national prominence during his 2024 presidential bid. Although he did not win enough support against President Donald Trump, he still gained name recognition and became popular with Republican voters. He was initially picked to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but is not involved.

The Ohio governor race will give him a chance to win elected office.

The once-battleground state has zoomed toward Republicans over the past decade, backing Trump by just over 11 points last November. But Democrats are hopeful they can make the gubernatorial race competitive, particularly if Trump’s approval rating continues to drop over the next several months.

What to Know

A majority of Ohio Republicans are leaning toward backing Ramaswamy next year, according to the latest poll from Bowling Green State University released last Friday.

Ramaswamy had support from 61 percent of Republican respondents, while Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost placed second at 24 percent. No other candidates polled in the double digits.

The poll surveyed 800 registered Ohio voters conducted from February 14 to February 21, 2025. It had a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

It is in line with other early polls showing Ramaswamy with a lead. For example, a poll conducted by National Public Affairs, between February 2 and 5 among 602 likely Republican primary voters, showed Ramaswamy leading the ballot with 46 percent to Yost’s 18 percent. An additional 34 percent said they weren’t sure who they’d vote for.

Newsweek reached out to both Ramaswamy and Yost campaigns for comment via email.

On the Democratic side, the latest poll suggested former Senator Sherrod Brown would be the frontrunner if he runs.

Fifty-nine percent of Democrats said they’d vote for him, compared to 17 percent who said they’d back former Representative Tim Ryan and 20 percent who said they’d vote for Amy Acton, former director of the Ohio Department of Health.

In a scenario where Brown doesn’t run, Democrats were more split—45 percent said they’d back Ryan, while 46 percent said they’d vote for Acton.

The poll did not include a question about the general election.

What People Are Saying

Donald Trump said in a post on X: “VIVEK RAMASWAMY is running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio. I know him well, competed against him, and he is something SPECIAL. He’s Young, Strong, and Smart! Vivek is also a very good person, who truly loves our Country. He will be a GREAT Governor of Ohio, will never let you down, and has my COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!”

What Happens Next

Ohio voters will choose a new governor in 2026, and in the months ahead, Ramaswamy will focus on winning over conservative voters and securing key endorsements.