Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy told The Daily Wire on Monday that he would “strongly consider” replacing J.D. Vance as U.S. senator from Ohio now that former President Donald Trump has picked Vance to be his running mate for the 2024 election.
At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, The Daily Wire’s Cabot Phillips asked Ramaswamy if there is a possibility he would become senator as Ohio GOP Governor Mike DeWine is faced with appointing Vance’s successor if Trump wins.
“The truth is I would strongly consider it if asked. I’d also want to have an open conversation with President Trump about where I could have the biggest impact on the future of the country,” Ramaswamy said.
“For me, my top passion and sense of purpose as well is tackling the administrative state,” he added. “And I think that that exists in cancerous ways at the federal level. It exists in all 50 states in this country, too.”
Ramaswamy, a native of Ohio, ran against Trump for the GOP’s presidential nomination before dropping out and endorsing Trump in January. He was said to be under consideration in veepstakes and has also been talked about for a potential Cabinet position.
In his interview with The Daily Wire, Ramaswamy further stated that “shutting down” the “shadow government” would require work both within the executive branch as well as the legislative branch.
This would go toward “laying out the pathway for reclaiming accountability to the political branches of government, particularly the law-making branch where lawmakers are elected rather than unelected bureaucrats who wield that power today,” Ramaswamy said.
“Both those could be ways to take that challenge on and, you know, that’s for after President Trump wins. That’s the real goal — is first achieve success. And then after that I’ll be open-minded to the different possibilities,” Ramaswamy continued.
Former Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken, who lost to Vance in the 2022 U.S. Senate race, told NOTUS at the convention she would “consider” replacing Vance if given the opportunity.
The report also noted that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a close ally to Trump, was “floated” by a source as a suggestion.
DeWine released a statement that said Trump made a “great choice” with Vance as his running mate. The governor told the media at the GOP convention it is “much too early” to begin talking about a potential replacement for Vance in the Senate.
Whoever is picked in this scenario, according to NBC’s local Cleveland affiliate WKYC, would not necessarily hold the seat for Vance’s full term that ends in January 2029. A special general election for the final stretch would be held in November 2026 during midterms season.
In the 2024 race for Ohio’s other U.S. Senate seat, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is facing off against businessman Bernie Moreno — who emerged victorious in the GOP nomination fight in March. Polls show Brown with an advantage for the general election.
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