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Ramaswamy Tightens Grip on Ohio GOP Governor Race as Husted Alliance, Union Splits Reshape 2026 Map

Cross-endorsements with Sen. Jon Husted highlight a coordinated Republican push reinforced by early labor backing.

Republicans U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, left, candidate for Senate in 2026, and Vivek Ramaswamy, right, candidate for Ohio Governor in 2026, are pictured at an event where they endorsed each other in Columbus, Ohio, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, candidate for Senate in 2026, speaks in Columbus, Ohio, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, where he endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy, candidate for Ohio Governor in 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Overview

  • Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said he will not run for governor, leaving Vivek Ramaswamy as the lone Republican with broad institutional support in the 2026 primary.
  • Ramaswamy and Sen. Jon Husted held a joint Columbus event to endorse one another, linking the governor and Senate contests for Republicans.
  • Several unions issued early endorsements that split tickets, with the Carpenters and Plumbers & Pipefitters backing Sherrod Brown for Senate and Ramaswamy for governor, while the Teamsters endorsed Ramaswamy and have not weighed in on the Senate race.
  • The Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council and Operating Engineers Local 18 endorsed both Ramaswamy and Husted, as larger groups like the AFL-CIO have yet to decide.
  • Democrats are organizing with Amy Acton as the leading gubernatorial contender and Tim Ryan weighing a bid this month, while Husted prepares for a competitive Senate race against Sherrod Brown and Ramaswamy eyes a running mate, with tickets due by February as Gov. Mike DeWine withholds a successor endorsement.