Ohio Republicans unite behind each other at joint event as Husted backs Ramaswamy and Ramaswamy backs Husted

Ohio’s two leading Republicans publicly backed one another at a joint event in Columbus on Monday night, a display of unity in a state that leans heavily Republican. U.S. Senate incumbent Jon Husted endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, while Ramaswamy endorsed Husted for the U.S. Senate. The release described the pairing as uniting Ohio around a strong mission for the state on the national stage.

Ramaswamy, a billionaire entrepreneur who rose to national prominence during the 2024 presidential bid and later pivoted to Ohio statewide campaigns, said he has known Husted for years and views him as a practical, common-sense leader who would carry Ohio’s voice to Washington without compromise. Husted, who was appointed to fill the remainder of JD Vance’s Senate term by Gov. Mike DeWine and is seeking re-election against Democrat Sherrod Brown, said Ramaswamy’s bold ideas align with priorities Ohioans expect and deserve. The joint release framed the pairing as a unity effort for the state on the national stage.

The Columbus event comes as Husted campaigns to hold onto the final two years of Vance’s six-year term while facing Brown in a race that could shape the balance of power in Washington. Trump has endorsed Husted in the Senate race, giving the incumbent a boost as he navigates a year in which Republicans have sought to present a united front. Ramaswamy has marketed his gubernatorial bid on pro-growth policies and an emphasis on educational achievement, including a call for improving schooling standards as a core element of his platform. His Ohio run, highlighted by a campaign launch in Cincinnati in February 2025, reflects his aim to extend his national profile into state government while aligning with the party’s broader priorities.

The show of unity drew reactions from across the Ohio GOP. Bernie Moreno, who beat Brown to win a Senate seat in a recent statewide contest, praised Husted’s Senate record, while Rep. Jim Jordan lauded Husted after Brown entered the race. On the messaging side, Mehek Cooke, a Republican National Committee surrogate and Ohio attorney, said the partnership signals that the party can be a big tent while pursuing goals such as boosting educational achievement, growing the economy and improving public safety. Cooke stressed endorsements reflect shared priorities for Ohioans rather than uniform ideology and that collaboration between the governor and the candidate for the Senate can produce benefits for the state.

Ohio remains a key battleground state even as recent presidential contests have shown strong Republican lean. Trump’s 2024 win in Ohio, by a double-digit margin, looms over the two races as party officials seek to translate that statewide tilt into success down the ballot next year and in 2026. Ramaswamy has framed his campaign around elevating education without sacrificing free-market principles, while Husted has emphasized experience in public service and government efficiency as assets for the GOP’s statewide slate. The Columbus event and the Cincinnati rally that preceded it illustrate a coordinated approach designed to knit together different strands of the Ohio GOP.

The cross-endorsement signals a broader strategy to blend fresh, vocal MAGA-aligned leadership with seasoned, establishment-leaning incumbents. The aim is to broaden appeal among Ohio voters who want practical governance and a strong economy, while keeping core Republican priorities intact. As both campaigns press forward with events across central Ohio, party strategists say the endorsements matter less for spectacle than for signaling a jointly pursued path forward for Ohio’s next generation of leaders.