Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate in the 2024 cycle, entered the 2026 race for the Ohio governorship on Monday evening.
The 39-year-old supporter of President Donald Trump formally announced his campaign during a rally in West Chester Township, a suburb of his hometown Cincinnati, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/us/politics/vivek-ramaswamy-ohio-governor-announcement.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
Trump &#8220;is reviving our conviction in America. We require a leader here at home who will revive our conviction in Ohio,&#8221; Ramaswamy said during his speech at CTL Aerospace before declaring his candidacy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I am honored to officially announce my candidacy to serve as the next Governor of Ohio. <a href="https://t.co/HFIR3dLspe">pic.twitter.com/HFIR3dLspe</a>
&mdash; Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1894160928502858201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I will lead Ohio to be the top state in the country where patriots across America actually flock to, instead of Florida and Texas,&#8221; Ramaswamy said later. &#8220;I will lead Ohio to be the state of excellence in America.&#8221;
Ramaswamy ran in the 2024 race for the White House before dropping out and endorsing Trump. He was said to be under consideration in the veepstakes, but Trump went with then-Sen. JD Vance (R-OH).
Trump later picked Ramaswamy to help Elon Musk lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, on Inauguration Day, it was revealed Ramaswamy would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ramaswamy-to-leave-doge-ahead-of-run-for-ohio-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no longer serve</a> in the endeavor.
Ramaswamy also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ramaswamy-says-he-would-strongly-consider-replacing-vance-as-senator-if-asked" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Daily Wire he would consider replacing Vance as senator if asked. That did not come to pass as Republican Governor Mike DeWine chose Jon Husted, the lieutenant governor, instead.
After Ramaswamy made his campaign for governor official, Trump endorsed him, saying on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114062254652077484" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Truth Social</a>, &#8220;I know him well, competed against him, and he is something SPECIAL. He’s Young, Strong, and Smart!&#8221;
Trump went on to say, &#8220;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!&#8221;
DeWine is term-limited and cannot run again. Others who have declared their candidacy include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on the GOP side and former Ohio health director Amy Acton for the Democrats.
Former college football coach and recently-appointed Republican Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, ex-Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), and former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are among those who may also jump into the race.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy Enters Race For Ohio Governor, Gets Trump’s Endorsement

Elections

JD Vance

Mike DeWine

Ohio

Politics

Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine announced on Monday morning that he has nominated legendary Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel to be the state&#8217;s next lieutenant governor.
&#8220;He has the requisite skill sets, he has the criteria that I outlined. He knows Ohio,&#8221; DeWine said. &#8220;Jim Tressel, I trust his judgment. He is a born leader.&#8221;
DeWine nominated Tressel to fill the role vacated by former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. DeWine appointed Husted to replace JD Vance as U.S. Senator after Vance left Congress to serve as vice president in the Trump administration.
Tressel coached Ohio State for 10 seasons, amassing an impressive 106-22 record, including a 66-14 record in the Big Ten Conference.
When he resigned in 2011, he was tied with former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops for the most appearances in BCS bowl games, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/42586/jim-tressel-by-the-numbers">ESPN</a>.
Tressel had a 5-3 record in those games, including a 1-2 record in games that determined the national champion, the report added.
He is the only coach in NCAA history to win more than 100 games at two different schools, Ohio State and Youngstown State, the report said.
Husted praised Tressel in a <a href="https://x.com/JonHusted/status/1888985347909886450">post on X</a> after DeWine made the announcement.
&#8220;@GovMikeDeWine made a great Lieutenant Governor pick in Jim Tressel,&#8221; Husted posted on X shortly after the announcement. &#8220;Lt. Governor Tressel will continue to advance Ohio’s economic and workforce development strategies. He’s a winner!&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Taps Legendary Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel To Be Lt. Governor" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x23qFiZQB5w?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame v Ohio State

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Appoints Legendary Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel To Be Next Lt. Governor

General

Ohio State University

Vivek Ramaswamy is reportedly quitting his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ahead of an expected run for governor of Ohio.
Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2024, was slated to head DOGE alongside tech magnate Elon Musk. Originally the brainchild of Musk, DOGE is to serve as an outside advisory group to the White House on cutting government waste.
Ramaswamy has yet to make a public announcement about either DOGE or a gubernatorial run, though he plans to announce his bid for Ohio governor next week, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/20/donald-trump-inauguration-day-news-updates-analysis/ramaswamy-doge-ohio-governor-00199276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLITICO</a>. Last week, Ramaswamy shared a post on X from a parody account floating a Ramaswamy gubernatorial bid, calling it “not a bad idea.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Note &#8211; the below is a parody account.
(Not a bad idea, though) <a href="https://t.co/b0V3cSHAsh">https://t.co/b0V3cSHAsh</a>
&mdash; Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1880372687647961361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On Monday, the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States, Ramaswamy posted a photo of him and Musk, the two heads of DOGE, celebrating “a new dawn.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A new dawn. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/a3Vthjth69">pic.twitter.com/a3Vthjth69</a>
&mdash; Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1881360107956793647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The rumors about Ramaswamy’s candidacy come after he met with Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine earlier this month about potentially filling Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat. DeWine passed over Ramaswamy in favor of his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted. Husted’s appointment clears a significant hurdle for Ramaswamy in a potential run for Ohio’s governor.
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DeWine is term-limited and set to leave office in 2027, setting up a competitive Republican primary for his governor’s seat in 2026.
In his press conference announcing his pick to fill Vance’s seat, DeWine predicted that both the Ohio governor’s race and U.S. Senate race, a special election for which is scheduled for 2026, would be competitive.
“I seriously doubt that it will avoid a contentious race for governor,” DeWine <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/politics/dewine-names-lt-gov-jon-husted-to-fill-jd-vances-senate-seat.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Just stay tuned. You’re going to see how many people, you know, say that they’re running in both parties.”
Ramaswamy is a relatively new face to politics and has yet to hold public office. His first attempt was a short-lived presidential bid in the 2024 Republican primary. After suspending his campaign, he endorsed Trump and became an outspoken ally for him to retake the White House.

Ramaswamy To Leave DOGE Ahead Of Run For Ohio Governor

Report: Ramaswamy To Leave DOGE Ahead Of Run For Ohio Governor

Donald Trump

Elon Musk

governor

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine selected Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Friday to fill the Senate seat left open by Vice President-elect JD Vance, while Vivek Ramaswamy is reportedly planning on announcing a run for governor.
DeWine announced his Senate appointment at a press conference on Friday, ensuring that Republicans maintain a 53-47 majority when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on Monday. Husted, a longtime major player in Ohio politics, recently focused on election security as lieutenant governor. The appointment will put Husted in the Senate seat for nearly three years, and he will have the option to run in the 2026 special election to determine who will complete Vance&#8217;s term, which ends after 2028.
“I believe and know that Jon is prepared to be United States senator from the state of Ohio,” DeWine said, according to <a href="https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/17/mike-dewine-to-pick-jon-husted-to-fill-jd-vances-ohio-senate-seat/77483035007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Columbus Dispatch</a>. “The U.S. Senate rewards hard workers. It rewards those who master the facts. It rewards those who focus on getting things done.”
DeWine met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week, and Trump was reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-reportedly-urges-vivek-ramaswamy-to-fill-open-ohio-senate-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">urging</a> Ramaswamy to accept the Senate seat if it was offered to him. DeWine told reporters at Mar-a-Lago, &#8220;I want someone who understands Ohio, who has a deep knowledge of our state. We need a strong advocate there.&#8221;
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The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/17/vivek-ramaswamy-ohio-governor-run/">reported</a>, citing two unnamed sources, that Ramaswamy, whom Trump tapped to help Elon Musk run the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is planning to run for Ohio governor in 2026. According to one Ohio political operative, Ramaswamy will plan &#8220;to get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a run for governor shortly.&#8221; Ramaswamy and Musk have said that DOGE will seek to accomplish its goals and dissolve by July 4, 2026.
Ohio&#8217;s 2026 governor&#8217;s race will be wide open, as DeWine is term-limited. Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur from Cincinnati, would enter the race with experience running a large campaign after his 2024 presidential bid. However, he has never held public office. Last January, he dropped out of the 2024 primary and endorsed Trump.

Mike DeWine, Jon Husted

DeWine Picks Jon Husted For Senate, Ramaswamy Reportedly To Run For Governor

Congress

Senate

U.S. Senate

President-elect Donald Trump wants entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to fill the Senate seat left open by Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to a report published Wednesday by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/15/vivek-ramaswamy-ohio-senate-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>.
The Post cited &#8220;two people with knowledge of the matter&#8221; who said that Trump encouraged Ramaswamy to take the job in the Senate if Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine offers it to him. Ramaswamy is also reportedly discussing the position with GOP leaders. Vance&#8217;s resignation from the Senate was made official last Friday, and now, DeWine has the responsibility to appoint a replacement until a special election is held in 2026.
After Trump&#8217;s 2024 election victory, Ramaswamy was tapped by the president-elect to run the Department of Government Efficiency alongside billionaire Elon Musk. Following his appointment to DOGE, Ramaswamy <a href="https://x.com/vivekgramaswamy/status/1856514211783794844?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he was &#8220;withdrawing&#8221; himself &#8220;from consideration for the pending Senate appointment in Ohio.&#8221;
Since DOGE is not an official government agency, it&#8217;s unclear if Ramaswamy would continue to help lead DOGE if he is tapped to replace Vance in the Senate.
DeWine met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week and told reporters that he will make a final decision on the Senate seat in the coming days, “I’ll have an announcement probably next week.&#8221;
&#8220;I want someone who understands Ohio, who has a deep knowledge of our state. We need a strong advocate there,&#8221; the governor added.
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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-who-could-replace-jd-vance-in-the-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multiple contenders</a> for the open Senate seat have been floated, including Ohio Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohio Lieutenant Gov. Jon Husted, and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken, among others. Ramaswamy, a native of Cincinnati, has also reportedly considered running for Ohio governor in 2026. Musk and Ramaswamy have said that they hope to end DOGE by July 4, 2026, after accomplishing all of its goals to cut government waste.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy have been criticized in recent weeks by some of Trump&#8217;s supporters for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reason-im-in-america-elon-and-other-trump-allies-battle-it-out-over-foreign-worker-visa-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supporting</a> the H-1B foreign worker visa program. A long debate over the visas was started by an X post from Ramaswamy, who argued that American culture “has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long.”
Trump also commented on the debate, siding with Musk and Ramaswamy. &#8220;I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,&#8221; he told the New York Post. &#8220;I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.&#8221;

Trump Reportedly Urges Vivek Ramaswamy To Fill Open Ohio Senate Seat

Trump Urges Vivek Ramaswamy To Fill Open Ohio Senate Seat: Report

On Thursday, Vice President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jd-vance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Vance</a> formally announced that he would resign from his seat in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a>, effective at midnight.
The Ohio Republican declared his intention to step down in a brief <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/JDV-Resignation-Letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> sent to his state&#8217;s GOP governor, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-dewine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike DeWine</a>, less than two weeks before Vance joins President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> in the White House. Inauguration Day is on January 20.
&#8220;To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate,&#8221; Vance said in a statement. &#8220;When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and I’ve made sure to live by that promise every single day.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;The American people have granted President Trump an undeniable mandate to put America first, both at home and abroad. Over the next four years, I will do all that I can to help President Trump enact his agenda. Together, we will make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.&#8221;
Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/j-d-vance-wins-ohio-senate-seat-over-democrat-tim-ryan-projection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> his Senate seat in Ohio during the 2022 election, defeating his Democrat opponent, Tim Ryan. His term was for six years. DeWine is expected to <a href="https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/11/07/ohio-senate-jd-vance-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appoint</a> a successor who will hold the seat temporarily, possibly as early <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1877481781441470872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as Monday</a>. A special election in 2026 will determine who will serve out the last part of the term.
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Cleveland.com <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/01/jd-vance-to-resign-senate-seat-at-midnight-to-become-trumps-vice-president-dewine-to-pick-his-successor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that there is speculation that DeWine could pick his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, after they visited Trump&#8217;s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last month. Other possibilities are: former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH).
Before announcing his Senate exit, Vance cast one last <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-breaks-filibuster-on-laken-riley-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vote</a> on Thursday to break the filibuster on the “Laken Riley Act,” legislation that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants who are charged with theft-related crimes in the United States.
Other lawmakers are poised to make the jump from Congress to the second Trump administration. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-officially-taps-rubio-for-secretary-of-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nominated</a> to become secretary of state. Trump also tapped some members of the House, including Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) to be his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-taps-mike-waltz-as-national-security-advisor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national security adviser</a> and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship">serve</a> as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Vice President-elect JD Vance

Vice President-Elect JD Vance Submits Resignation From Senate

Inauguration

Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance will leave his Senate seat when he becomes vice president on January 20, giving Republican Gov. Mike DeWine the responsibility to appoint a replacement until a special election is held in 2026.
Ohio went red in the 2024 election, giving Trump an 11-point win over Vice President Kamala Harris. Longtime Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown also lost his re-election bid this year to Republican Bernie Moreno, giving the GOP both Senate seats in the state. Now, with Vance&#8217;s seat opening up, numerous Republicans are being floated as potential replacements.
<h3>Frank LaRose</h3>
Ohio Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose is a favorite among the state&#8217;s Republicans to replace Vance. LaRose made headlines in the past year for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-secretary-of-state-orders-removal-of-nearly-500-non-citizens-from-voter-rolls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading an effort</a> to clean up Ohio&#8217;s voter rolls ahead of the 2024 election, including purging hundreds of non-citizens from the rolls. LaRose has served as Ohio&#8217;s secretary of state since 2019. Before that, he was a member of the Ohio State Senate. LaRose ran for Senate in 2024 but lost to Moreno in the Republican primary.
<h3>Jon Husted</h3>
Ohio Lieutenant Gov. Jon Husted has served in that position since 2019. He has long been a major player in Ohio politics, serving as the Ohio secretary of state from 2011 to 2019, and the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009.
Husted also pushed hard to secure Ohio&#8217;s elections, saying he wanted to make it a state where it is &#8220;both easy to vote and hard to cheat.&#8221; After taking office as secretary of state, Husted switched voting rules to make early voting hours uniform across the state instead of allowing county boards of elections to set their own hours.
Husted appears more likely to run for governor than for the Senate in 2026, and he has already received DeWine&#8217;s <a href="https://www.ideastream.org/2024-11-11/ohios-2026-race-for-governor-may-be-part-of-dewines-us-senate-choice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsement</a> for the position. &#8220;Based on my six years working with him, he will be a great governor,” DeWine said earlier this month.
<h3>Jim Renacci</h3>
A Republican rival of DeWine, former Congressman Jim Renacci would be an unlikely appointment, but he could campaign for the 2026 special election. Renacci challenged DeWine in 2022, regularly criticizing the Ohio governor. He <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/05/03/us/elections/results-ohio.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> to DeWine in the Republican primary by 20 points. Renacci also mounted a U.S. Senate campaign in 2018, winning the Republican primary before losing to Democrat Sherrod Brown in the general election.
Before he was elected to Congress in 2010, Renacci was a successful businessman, owning multiple dealerships in the Columbus area. In Congress, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Budget Committee.
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<h3>Matt Dolan</h3>
Ohio Republican state Senator Matt Dolan has thrown his hat into the ring for a U.S. Senate twice in the past three years, falling short in Republican primaries in 2022 and 2024. Dolan is the son of Larry Dolan who owns the Cleveland Guardians (formerly Cleveland Indians) of the MLB. Dolan was given a partial stake in the franchise in 2000.
Dolan is also a partner at the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore &amp; Dolan and the vice president of 7th Avenue Properties, managing businesses and real estate properties. Dolan could have an edge over others in seeking DeWine&#8217;s appointment. In the 2024 Senate election, he was endorsed by DeWine while Republican Bernie Moreno, who went on to win the election, was endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump.
<h3>Dave Joyce</h3>
Republican Congressman Dave Joyce is currently serving his sixth term in the U.S. House after first being elected in 2012. Before Congress, Joyce worked as a public defender and was later appointed prosecutor of Geauga County, Ohio, to the east of Cleveland.
Earlier this year, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) appointed Joyce to serve on the task force investigating the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump. Joyce <a href="https://joyce.house.gov/posts/joyce-selected-by-speaker-johnson-to-serve-on-bipartisan-task-force-to-investigate-the-attempted-assassination-of-president-donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he would &#8220;work diligently to uncover the facts, demand accountability, and ensure these security failures are prevented from happening in the future.&#8221;
<h3>Warren Davidson</h3>
Warren Davidson, another Ohio Republican congressman, has been floated for the Senate seat. Davidson served as a U.S. Army infantryman, where he was stationed in Germany. He later earned an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated near the top of his class.
Davidson also owned and operated manufacturing companies in Ohio for 15 years before he was elected to the House in 2016.
<h3>Jane Timken</h3>
Attorney and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken is at the top of the list of people DeWine is considering for the appointment to the Senate, according to <a href="https://ohio.news/articles/mike-dewine-reportedly-considering-donor-jane-timken-for-senate-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ohio.news</a>. Timken served as the head of the Ohio GOP from 2017 to 2021 and then ran for Senate in 2022. Despite boasting the endorsement of outgoing Sen. Rob Portman in 2022, Timken finished in fifth place in the Republican primary.
<h3>Mike Carey</h3>
Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) has thrown his name in the mix for Vance&#8217;s seat, telling <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ohio-congressman-vying-replace-jd-vance-senate-says-trumps-agenda-must-priority-day-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> earlier this week that Trump &#8220;needs somebody in the Senate that will make sure that we get his agenda through.&#8221; Carey has been in Congress since 2021, where he has prioritized fighting for tax relief, housing affordability, and energy independence.
Before his time in Congress, Carey was an executive for a large privately owned energy company.
<h3>Mehek Cooke</h3>
Republican attorney Mehek Cooke is also being considered by DeWine, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-candidate-emerges-crowded-field-as-possible-replacement-vances-ohio-senate-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>. Cooke was a political and legal surrogate for Trump in the 2024 election, appearing on Fox News to boost Trump&#8217;s campaign. Cooke served as assistant chief counsel in the Ohio governor&#8217;s office from 2012 to 2014. She also worked in the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, focusing on cases involving corruption, terrorism, drug trafficking, asset forfeiture, and money laundering.
According to a WPA Intelligence <a href="https://cdn.nucleusfiles.com/de/de97adfe-1c9a-48ea-9ce4-749dfe8de3de/wpai_oh_senate_memo_241120.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poll</a> reported on by <a href="https://ohio.news/articles/poll-finds-larose-with-clear-lead-to-succeed-vance-in-us-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ohio.news</a>, LaRose (17%) leads among candidates for the seat on favorability and potential to defeat the Democratic candidate in the special election. Husted is in second place at 10%, according to the poll. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is in third place, according to the poll, but Yost said earlier this month that he would decline an appointment to the Senate seat as he appears to be a top candidate for governor in 2026.
The WPA Intelligence poll rounds out with Renacci and Dolan at 5%, Joyce and Davidson at 3%, Timken and Carey at 2%, and Cooke at 1%. Whoever is appointed in the coming weeks will have to run in the 2026 special election to hold onto the seat, and the regular election for the Senate seat will take place two years later in 2028.

JD Vance and Mike DeWine

Here’s Who Could Replace JD Vance In The Senate

Here's Who Could Replace JD Vance In The Senate

Republicans

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill on Tuesday prohibiting trans-identifying students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that don&#8217;t match their biological sex.
When the law takes effect in 90 days, public and private K-12 schools, along with colleges and universities, must ensure that bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations are divided by biological sex, The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5012298-dewine-ohio-transgender-students-bathroom-use/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The bill was approved by Ohio&#8217;s Republican-controlled state Senate earlier this month. Democrats were united in their opposition to the legislation.
The new Ohio law also bans schools from building multi-occupancy &#8220;all-gender&#8221; facilities. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, the law <a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/11/27/ohio-gov-mike-dewine-signs-transgender-bathroom-ban-bill-into-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">does not prohibit</a> schools from having non-gendered single-occupancy bathrooms.
Ohio <a href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/nondiscrimination/bathroom_bans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joins</a> more than a dozen other states that have taken action to ensure that K-12 students use bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their biological sex.
The Republicans who sponsored the original state House bill thanked DeWine for signing it into law.
&#8220;Thank you @GovMikeDeWine for signing the bill yesterday that contains HB 183,&#8221; state Rep. Adam Bird <a href="https://x.com/AdamCBird/status/1861759876411920724" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X. &#8220;[Beth Lear] and I have been working on this bill for over a year and we are thankful that individuals will not have to worry about the opposite sex coming into the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms.&#8221;
In response, Lear added, &#8220;Yes, thank you @GovMikeDeWine for signing SB 104 to protect ALL students. &#8221;
DeWine was also praised by Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who <a href="https://x.com/DaveYostOH/status/1861778495983985084" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thanked</a> the governor &#8220;for siding with biology, history safety and common sense.&#8221;
Democrats and leftist activists decried DeWine&#8217;s signing of the legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio <a href="https://x.com/acluohio/status/1861787449980080135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>, &#8220;Transgender people are part of the fabric of Ohio; our families, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. 🏳️‍⚧️ We remain steadfast in our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and are closely considering next steps.&#8221;
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The new law is yet another victory for conservatives in the state on the transgender issue. Last year, DeWine <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-gop-governor-vetoes-bans-on-gender-procedures-for-minors-biological-boys-competing-in-girls-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vetoed</a> bans on minors undergoing gender procedures and boys competing against girls in the state, but the state legislature overrode his veto in January 2024.

Ohio GOP Governor Signs Bill Ensuring Students Use Bathrooms Aligning With Biological Sex

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Ohio Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-dewine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike DeWine</a> (R) is sending law enforcement and millions of dollars to Springfield, Ohio, after residents&#8217; public grievances about the influx of 20,000 Haitian migrants to their community garnered national attention.
DeWine said Tuesday that state troopers will be sent to help address the growing reckless driving issue, largely sparked by the migrant influx. He&#8217;ll also be dedicating $2.5 million toward health care. Wait times for health care have significantly increased for residents due to the migrants.
&#8220;I want the people of Springfield and Clark County to know that as we move forward, we will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants,&#8221; DeWine <a href="https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-announces-healthcare-public-safety-support-for-springfield-and-clark-county" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;The federal government has not demonstrated that they have any kind of plan to deal with the issue. We will not walk away.&#8221;
&#8220;The influx of Haitians to Springfield and Clark County has significantly impacted local primary care providers due to the increased number of patients and the need for more translation services,&#8221; a press release from the governor&#8217;s office said. &#8220;In general, migrants from Haiti have had little to no healthcare services prior to arriving in the United States, including vaccinations.&#8221;
&#8220;To address the increase in dangerous driving in Springfield by inexperienced Haitian drivers and all others who disregard traffic laws, Governor DeWine directed the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) to support the Springfield Police Department with traffic enforcement,&#8221; the press release noted. &#8220;Beginning [Thursday] morning, OSHP troopers will patrol local roads with the highest crash rates and hold accountable any driver who drives erratically and risks the safety of others.&#8221;
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In addition to DeWine&#8217;s action, the state&#8217;s Republican Attorney General Dave Yost directed his office to research legal avenues to stop the federal government from sending “an unlimited number of migrants to Ohio communities.&#8221;
The Biden-Harris administration in June gave 300,000 Haitians temporary legal status, which lasts until at least February 2026. This allows these migrants to remain and work in the U.S. until then, and possibly beyond. This was awarded to any Haitian in the U.S. who was here before or on June 3, and included thousands of Haitians in Springfield.
City Manager Bryan Heck said his town attracted migrants because of its affordable housing and job openings. The city was in turmoil for years, but had a turnaround when manufacturing picked up.
Numerous residents have said they witnessed “buses” of these migrants being dropped off at gas stations and laundromats.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-ohio-town-overrun-by-haitian-immigrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What You Need To Know About The Ohio Town Overrun By Haitian Immigrants</a>

Ohio GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Mike DeWine Attends Election Night In Columbus

Ohio Gov Takes Action After Springfield Residents Speak Out About 20,000 Haitian Migrant Influx

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Illegal Immigration

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A county judge in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ohio">Ohio</a> placed a temporary block on the state’s law shielding individuals under 18 years old from life-altering transgender procedures for two weeks or until consideration of a broader injunction against the law. 
The law, called the “Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act,” bans so-called &#8220;gender-affirming&#8221; surgeries, such as double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys, in addition to prohibiting giving minors cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers. The law does not prevent minors who were already placed on puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones before the legislation passed from staying on them. 
Franklin County Judge Michael J. Holbrook put a hold on the law <a href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/politics/ohio-law-transgender-care-ban-blocked-by-judge/530-598b7f3b-477d-49a9-9ad7-336f2b8897d9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> that it may have been unlawful because the Ohio Constitution says that bills should have no “more than one subject.” The “Safe Act” included both a ban on transgender procedures and stipulated that males could not compete on female sports teams at grades K-12 and the collegiate level. 
The law, slated to go into effect on April 24, will be placed on hold for two weeks unless a hearing for a preliminary injunction against it takes place before that time. The ACLU challenged the law, claiming it was discriminatory. 
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, said he expected the law to be upheld eventually. 
“This is just the first page of the book,” he <a href="https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/April-2024/Statement-from-AG-Yost-on-House-Bill-68-Ruling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “We will fight vigorously to defend this properly enacted statute, which protects our children from irrevocable adult decisions. I am confident that this law will be upheld.”
The law was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-republicans-ban-trans-procedures-on-minors-boys-in-girls-sports-in-vote-overriding-gop-governor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> by Republican lawmakers in January over the veto of GOP Governor Mike DeWine. It was sponsored by state Rep. Gary Click (R), who said Tuesday that the law would be upheld after litigation was resolved. 
&#8220;We have lower court disappointments but higher court victories,” he said, <a href="https://www.10tv.com/article/news/politics/ohio-law-transgender-care-ban-blocked-by-judge/530-598b7f3b-477d-49a9-9ad7-336f2b8897d9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to 10WBNS. 
Click added that “there&#8217;s no constitutional right to injure children, there&#8217;s no constitutional right to chemically castrate children… there is no constitutional right to this, this is malpractice and we&#8217;re gonna win in the end.”
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DeWine said he expected the court battle to go to the state Supreme Court. 
&#8220;Everybody knew that this would go to court eventually,” DeWine said. “Whatever the decision the local judge makes, it will go up to the court of appeals and I&#8217;m sure it will go from there to the Ohio Supreme Court.”
More than 20 states have passed similar laws to Ohio&#8217;s, with most surviving court challenges so far. The Supreme Court on Monday allowed an Idaho law protecting minors from transgender procedures to go into effect while litigation against it proceeds. 
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a federal appeals court ruled that West Virginia&#8217;s transgender sports ban violates a federal civil rights law that protects students from sex-based discrimination.

Hand of nurse preparing arranging medical surgical tools on tray wearing latex gloves protective workwear for safety in surgery operation room in hospital with medical professional doctor nurse

Judge Blocks Ohio Law Shielding Minors From Transgender Procedures, Keeping Males Off Female Sports Teams

Courts

minors

Transgender Athletes

transgender surgery

A federal official with the National Transportation Safety Board said that the controlled burning of toxic chemicals in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/east-palestine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">East Palestine</a>, Ohio, after a massive train derailment last year was not justified. 
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told lawmakers on Wednesday that there would have been alternatives to busting open the train cars and burning the vinyl chloride chemicals inside after a train operated by Norfolk Southern crashed in February of 2023. The burn released toxic fumes into the area and left residents with concerns about their health and safety. 
The company in charge of the chemicals, Oxy Vinyls, reportedly did not think a deadly explosion would occur, telling contractors with Norfolk Southern that “there was no justification to do a vent and burn,” according to Homendy. Instead, they could have waited and let the chemicals cool down. 
Homendy said that Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) and other first responders did not know that this was a possibility. 
“So Oxy Vinyls was on scene providing information to Norfolk Southern’s contractor who was in the room when the decision was made, and when advice was given to the governor of Ohio, to the incident commander, they were not given full information because no one was told Oxy Vinyls was on scene,” Homendy said. “They were left out of the room. The incident commander didn’t even know they existed. Neither did the governor. So they were provided incomplete information to make a decision.”
The information came out as Homendy was <a href="https://www.vance.senate.gov/press-releases/ntsb-chair-homendy-chemical-explosion-in-east-palestine-didnt-need-to-happen-experts-were-ignored/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questioned</a> by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) about whether the controlled burn was necessary to avoid an explosion of the toxic chemicals. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨WATCH: NTSB Chair Homendy tells Senator @JDVance1 the chemical explosion in East Palestine, OH did not have to happen
“They were provided incomplete information to make a decision&#8230;there was no justification to do a vent and burn.” <a href="https://t.co/5vR5sd8CDZ">pic.twitter.com/5vR5sd8CDZ</a>
&mdash; Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenVancePress/status/1765513323229900914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“To sort of recap for folks, the mushroom cloud, the chemical mushroom cloud that captured headlines across the country was the result of a controlled burn,” Vance said, before saying that the central question was whether the burn was justified or not. Vance pointed out that the measured temperature of the chemical tank cars had dropped and stabilized after the crash. 
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Homendy said that to justify the burn, temperatures in the chemical tank cars would have to be rapidly increasing and there would have to be an infusion of oxygen into the cars. Both of these factors were not in play, according to Homendy. 
Vance called the revelations “extraordinary” and suggested that the burn was done so that more traffic and freight could be moved through quickly. 
After the crash, many East Palestine residents were forced to evacuate their homes after the derailment as the toxic chemicals burned, releasing poisonous fumes into the air, ground, and water. Norfolk Southern was sued by East Palestine <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-class-action-lawsuit-filed-by-residents-against-norfolk-southern" target="_blank" rel="noopener">residents</a>, the state of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/entirely-avoidable-ohio-sues-norfolk-southern-for-train-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a>, and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-epa-unveil-lawsuit-against-norfolk-southern-over-east-palestine-train-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal government</a>.

Screen Shot 2024-03-08 at 11.08.43 AM

Controlled Burn Of Toxic Chemicals That Unleashed Mushroom Cloud Over East Palestine Wasn’t Necessary, Federal Official Says

Disasters

East Palestine

National transportation Safety Board

Norfolk Southern

Ohio Train Disaster

Train

Ohio is backtracking on proposed restrictions to curb <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transgender</a> medicalization for adults.
The state health department said Wednesday that it has changed its new proposed administrative rules on transgender medical treatments to apply only to children. The department said it received public comments opposing restrictions on adults for such treatments.
&#8220;The comments revealed a significant interest in the original draft’s impact on adult patients. The revised quality standard rules are now applicable only to care for minors,&#8221; the health department said in a <a href="https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/9b217d95-bcc9-483f-8771-f4786bb93b56/Combined+to+Post.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&amp;CONVERT_TO=url&amp;CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_M1HGGIK0N0JO00QO9DDDDM3000-9b217d95-bcc9-483f-8771-f4786bb93b56-oS58U7u" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">memo</a> noting the changes.
Earlier this month, Governor Mike DeWine (R) announced the new rules restricting transgender medical treatments for both adults and children.
One of the rules would have required trans-identifying adults to have a team of an endocrinologist, a bioethicist, and a psychiatrist evaluating them rather than just one clinician.
Another rule would have required adults under 21 to have at least six months of counseling before starting cross-sex hormones or getting gender surgery.
“Candidly, as I expressed a week ago, I am concerned that there could be fly-by-night providers and clinics that might be dispensing medication to adults with no counseling and no basic standards to assure quality care,” DeWine <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4391617-gender-affirming-care-access-ohio-trans-adults-restricted-new-administrative-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> when he announced the rules.
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“The rules that we are announcing today will take care of that. We need to ensure that adults, as well as children, are protected,” the governor said.
A week earlier, DeWine had vetoed a bill that banned transgender hormone treatments and surgeries for children and prohibited trans-identifying students from competing on sports teams of the opposite sex.
Ohio&#8217;s GOP-majority legislature overrode DeWine&#8217;s veto several days later.
That law will take effect in April unless a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) halts its enforcement before then.
At least 21 states have enacted some kind of ban on transgender medical treatments for minors, although some have not taken effect yet, and Arkansas&#8217; ban was struck down in court.
Florida is the only other state that has restricted transgender medicalization for adults.
Last summer, a new Florida law went into effect <a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-transgender-health-care-adults-e7ae55eec634923e6593a4c0685969b2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requiring</a> a physician to oversee transgender treatments for adults. Adults must also see that doctor in person, not virtually on a telehealth appointment. The law also requires adults to sign an informed consent form for transgender treatments.
Cross-sex hormones, one of the most common transgender treatments, come with serious side effects.
They can <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-young-people-in-u-s-have-nearly-doubled-recently-report-shows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cause</a> infertility, deadly blood clots, heart attacks, increased cancer risks of the breasts and ovaries, liver dysfunction, worsening psychological illness, and other serious conditions. These hormone treatments can also lower a female&#8217;s voice permanently.

Doctor With bottles for Testosterone and Estrogen hormonal balance therapy

Ohio Backtracks On Restricting Transgender Medicalization For Adults

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