Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in Tuesday's primary and will face Democrat Amy Acton in the November general election, according to CBS News and ABC News projections.
Tuesday's primary pitted Ramaswamy — a biotech billionaire who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination — against auto engineer Casey Putsch, whom he defeated. A ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court voided all votes cast for a third candidate, Morgan County school board member Heather Hill, after her running mate exited the race — state law mandates that gubernatorial and lieutenant governor candidates appear as a joint ticket, according to CBS News.
What had once looked like a competitive Republican contest collapsed early: Yost, the former Ohio attorney general, exited after both the state party and Trump threw their weight behind Ramaswamy, while longtime Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel chose not to enter at all. On Truth Social, Trump reinforced his backing by calling Ramaswamy "Young, Strong, and Smart" and "something SPECIAL," according to ABC News.
In his victory speech, Ramaswamy addressed attacks on his personal wealth. "I believe in celebrating success," he told ABC News. "I was not born a billionaire. I was not born a millionaire. I was not born an anything-aire."
