Ramaswamy made at DOGE; Ohio’s gubernatorial campaign is expected to begin early next week, according to a source

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is done with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, a spokesperson confirmed Monday.

The confirmation came a few hours after a source close to the millionaire biotech entrepreneur told Fox News Digital that Ramaswamy was no longer with DOGE.

And Ramaswamy, who along with Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, was tapped by Trump to run DOGE in November, is expected to launch a Republican campaign for Ohio governor early next week, according to the source.

“Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in the creation of DOGE,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement to Fox News. “He intends to run for elected office soon, which will require him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure announced today. We thank him very much for his contributions over the last two months and expect him to play a critical role.” America is great again.

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Vivek Ramaswamy and Kristi Noem applaud during the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, USA, January 20, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS, Pool)

Soon after, Ramaswamy took to social media to release a statement.

“It was an honor to support the creation of DOGE. I am confident that Elon and his team will succeed in streamlining the government. I will have more to say about my future plans in Ohio very soon. Most importantly, we are all in this to help President Trump Make America Great Again!,” he wrote.

GOP Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in 2026.

DeWine announced Friday that Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will fill the U.S. Senate seat held by former Sen. JD Vance until earlier this month, when the vice president resigned ahead of Monday’s inauguration.

Before the Senate announcement, Husted had planned to run for governor in 2026 to succeed DeWine. Ramaswamy, on his part, had expressed interest in serving in the Senate.

DeWine’s decision to choose Husted to fill the vacant Senate seat appeared to accelerate Ramaswamy’s attempt to launch a run for governor.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announces the appointment of Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted (right) to fill the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Vice President, at a press conference on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio JD Vance held. (AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth)

Ramaswamy, 39, who launched his presidential campaign in February 2023, has seen his stock rise as he transforms himself from an outsider to a contender for the Republican nomination.

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Ramaswamy campaigned on what he called the “America First 2.0” agenda and was one of Trump’s biggest supporters in the field of rivals. He called Trump “the most successful president of our century.”

Vivek Ramaswamy supports former President Trump during a campaign rally in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on January 16, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

He dropped his bid for the White House a year ago after finishing a distant fourth in the Iowa caucuses and quickly endorsed Trump, making him a top surrogate in the campaign.

Ramaswamy’s departure appears to pave the way for Musk, Trump’s top financial backer and key ally, to steer DOGE without needing to be in the spotlight.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are leading efforts to reduce government inefficiency. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The move also comes a few weeks after Ramswamy and Musk sparked a firestorm among Trump’s hardcore MAGA supporters over their support for H-1B temporary work visas for highly skilled workers from abroad.

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Ramaswamy’s comments, in which he criticized American culture and said he “worships mediocrity over excellence,” were met with strong opposition from some leading voices on the right as well as some in Trump’s political circle.

Ohio, once a key battleground in general elections, has shifted into the red over the past decade as Republicans have dominated statewide elections.