'You have my full endorsement': Elon Musk as Vivek Ramaswamy announces 2026 bid for Ohio governor race

Ramaswamy dropped out of the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to endorse Donald Trump.

After Indian-American entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy officially announced his candidacy for the Ohio Governor’s post, Tesla CEO Elon Musk endorsed him.

"Good luck, you have my full endorsement!" Musk responded to Ramaswamy in a post on X.

Ramaswamy formally declared his candidacy during a rally on Monday in his hometown of Cincinnati.

“I am honoured to officially announce my candidacy to serve as the next Governor of Ohio," he said. “President Trump is reviving our conviction in America. We require a leader here at home, who will revive our conviction in Ohio."

Republican Dave Yost, Ohio's Attorney General and former state auditor, has already announced his bid for the November 2026 election. Former Ohio health director Amy Acton, a Democrat, is also in the race.

Ramaswamy (39) dropped out of the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to endorse Donald Trump.

Ramaswamy's campaign was guided by the top political advisers of Vice President JD Vance, who previously represented Ohio in the US Senate.

Speaking at a rally in Cincinnati while officially launching his campaign, Ramaswamy, said, "I am running to be the next governor of a great state at the heart of the greatest nation known to mankind – the state where I was born and raised, the state where Apoorva and I raise our two sons today – a state whose best days are still ahead."

He promised to lead Ohio to be the top state in the country to raise a family, provide children with world-class education and grow a business.

“We will shred every excess regulation in this state. For every new regulation that gets on the books under my administration, we will require rescinding at least ten others before that regulation hits the books," he said.

His candidacy also received a strong endorsement from President Trump. “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 said on his Truth Social platform.

“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!" Trump further said.