Vivek Ramaswamy, An Ohio Native, Is Interested In Filling Vance's Old Senate Seat, Ap Source Says

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed interest in the Ohio U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance , two people with direct knowledge of the biotech entrepreneur's wishes told The Associated Press.

The 39-year-old from Cincinnati had been weighing a campaign for Ohio governor in 2026 and hoped to build his policy portfolio as partner to billionaire Elon Musk leading a non-governmental effort to cut federal government spending, regulations and personnel.

But in recent weeks, Ramaswamy had multiple conversations with President-elect Donald Trump about filling the Senate seat, according to one of the people. That person said Trump approached Ramaswamy to consider taking the seat as someone familiar with Trump's goal of slashing the federal bureaucracy.

The people with direct knowledge of Ramaswamy's interest in the Senate seat spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose a private discussion.

Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.