Ramaswamy picks Ohio state Senate president as running mate in gubernatorial campaign

Vivek Ramaswamy has announced that he picked Ohio state Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate for lieutenant governor in his GOP gubernatorial campaign.

Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed his lieutenant governor pick to NBC News on Tuesday.

“I’m excited to announce Rob McColley as my running mate to be the next lieutenant governor of Ohio,” Ramaswamy said in a statement. “I’m an entrepreneur, not a politician, and selected Rob to be a governing partner who can help advance our ambitious legislative agenda. Rob is a proven conservative leader, and he is committed to my vision to make the American Dream a reality for every Ohioan.”

In the campaign’s statement to NBC News, McColley said: “Ohio needs a businessman, not a bureaucrat; a creator, not a quitter; a visionary, not a victim. That leader is Vivek Ramaswamy. He will be one of the boldest leaders in the history of our state, and I’m honored to help execute his vision.”

President Trump has endorsed Ramaswamy, who briefly ran against him in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. The Democratic and Republican primaries for the governorship is May 5. 

Ramaswamy is running to succeed Gov. Mike DeWine (R), who is term-limited, in a state that has elected only Republican governors over the last two decades. His campaign announced this week that it raised nearly $20 million last year, which did not include any contributions from Ramaswamy’s personal wealth.

The Democratic candidate will be physician Amy Acton, who was the state’s health director under DeWine in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is the lone Democratic candidate, according to Ballotpedia.com. Several early polls have shown a close race between Acton and Ramaswamy.

On Wednesday morning, Acton announced that David Pepper, the former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, is her running mate. Pepper, a former Hamilton County commissioner and Cincinnati councilman, has previously run unsuccessfully for statewide office twice.

“David is an innovative and pragmatic leader who has been laser focused on delivering for Ohioans for his entire career, from reducing the property tax rate for Cincinnatians to tackling foreclosures during the 2008 recession,” Acton said in a statement from her campaign. “I am thrilled to have David by my side in the fight to lower costs, tackle corruption and special interests, and ensure that every Ohio family can thrive and enjoy the quality of life we all deserve.”