Vivek Ramaswamy emerges as a surprise prospect for Vance's old Senate seat

CLEVELAND — Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur positioned to help oversee President-elect Donald Trump’s effort to cut government spending, is in discussions about filling Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat in Ohio, two people briefed on the process told NBC News.

The development is a reversal for Ramaswamy, who in November said his work alongside billionaire Elon Musk at Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency would remove him from consideration for the Senate job.

But Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who will appoint an interim successor to take over Vance's seat, chatted with Ramaswamy about the Senate vacancy in a meeting last weekend at the Governor’s Mansion in Columbus, according to a source familiar with the talks. The source, who was granted anonymity to share details about private conversations, also said Trump has encouraged Ramaswamy to accept the appointment if DeWine offers it.

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Trump aides did not respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople for DeWine and Ramaswamy declined to comment.

“Neither Governor DeWine nor our office has commented on any possible candidates for the pending appointment,” DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney wrote in a text message.

The Washington Post first reported Trump’s encouragement of Ramaswamy. Politico first reported the meeting with DeWine.

Though Ramaswamy initially took himself out of the running for the Senate, he has been a constant factor in DeWine’s deliberations over who should replace Vance, who resigned last week in advance of his swearing-in as vice president. 

Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native who now lives in the Columbus area, is widely believed to be interested in running to succeed DeWine, who is term-limited, as governor next year. But so is DeWine’s preferred successor, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. 

A bruising GOP primary featuring Husted, Ramaswamy and others could dent DeWine’s legacy. Without any clear signal about Ramaswamy’s intentions in 2026, DeWine has considered appointing Husted, a close ally, to the Senate vacancy to better solidify his political future. Whoever DeWine picks would have to win a special election in 2026 to serve the remaining two years of Vance’s term.

But Husted, who for two weeks has been viewed as the leading candidate for the appointment, has resisted past overtures to run for the Senate, and he has been aggressively preparing his campaign for governor. Ohio Republicans wired into the process have said he has reservations about accepting the Senate appointment. 

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DeWine has said he plans to reveal his choice “probably” this week. Other possibilities include former state GOP chair Jane Timken and former state Rep. Jay Edwards. 

It’s not clear why Ramaswamy would be willing to leave Trump’s government efficiency team, known as DOGE, before its work even starts, nor is it clear whether or why Trump would be eager for him to go. But some of Ramaswamy’s recent posts on X, Musk’s social media site, have created a rift within Trump’s MAGA movement.

Wading into a debate over H-1B temporary worker visas, a carve-out for high-skilled workers who some on the political right say are taking American jobs, Ramaswamy criticized an American culture that he said “venerated mediocrity over excellence.” 

A source who speaks with Trump said the notion that Trump might be keen on Ramaswamy’s taking the Senate seat was not surprising.

“DJT is tired of him,” the source said, referring to Trump by his initials. “Wants him in a new role.”