Ohio Teamsters Endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor, Signaling Labor Pivot
Labor union backs Republican candidate in bid to reshape Ohio’s gubernatorial landscape
The Ohio Conference of Teamsters endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor on Tuesday, a move that marks a break with the union’s recent history of backing Democratic candidates. The endorsement was announced by Ramaswamy’s campaign and confirmed by the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, which represents more than 50,000 workers in the state.
Patrick J. Darrow, president of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, said the union’s members want a leader who will fight for good-paying jobs and strengthen Ohio’s future. "The Teamsters are proud to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor of Ohio. Our members want a leader who will fight for good-paying jobs and strengthen the future for Ohio’s working families," Darrow said. "We look forward to working with him."
Ramaswamy’s campaign noted that the endorsement comes as he has already won support from several other labor-linked groups for the 2026 gubernatorial bid, including the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters, the Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council and the Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council. Interestingly, both the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters have also endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown in recent cycles. Ramaswamy has also been endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party.
Members of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters were previously aligned with former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who has not yet said whether he will enter the governor’s race. The union’s leadership noted the switch as part of a broader effort by Ramaswamy to cultivate labor support as he courts voters in a state with a sizable manufacturing and construction sector.
Ramaswamy’s campaign said the endorsements reflect broad appeal among workers and noted that nearly $220,000 of the contributions raised in the candidate’s first months came from individuals who previously gave to Ryan.
On the Democratic side, former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton remains the leading Democrat in the governor’s race. The race in Ohio is shaping up as a test of how far Ramaswamy can push into organized labor-aligned blocs while competing against a field that includes several established Democrats.
The Ohio Teamsters endorsement adds to a growing list of labor and business figures lending support to Ramaswamy as he positions himself as a candidate who prioritizes job creation and economic opportunity for working Ohioans. Political observers note that endorsements from builders’ and plumbers’ unions, even when they run counter to the unions’ past political leanings, reflect a shifting dynamic in Ohio’s labor politics, where endorsements may hinge on perceived leadership style and ability to deliver tangible workforce gains.
As the 2026 campaign unfolds, Ohio voters will weigh the implications of labor endorsements in a state known for its manufacturing base and construction industry, alongside a Democratic field led by Brown’s Senate bid and a Democratic gubernatorial lineup that includes Acton. The combination of union backing and high-profile endorsements on both sides underscores the central role that workers’ livelihoods and labor policy are expected to play in the race.