💥 OHIO GOVERNOR RACE EXPLODES: RAMASWAMY & ACTON LOCK IN RUNNING MATES IN POLITICAL POWER PLAY.c1

In a move that could reshape GOP politics in Ohio, Republican gubernatorial contender Vivek Ramaswamy — the biotech executive-turned-political outsider — selected Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate for lieutenant governor.

Ramaswamy’s choice signals a blend of outsider appeal with insider experience: McColley, a seasoned conservative lawmaker representing Northwest Ohio, has served in the General Assembly since 2017 and has been Senate president since 2025.

At a Cleveland rally introducing McColley to supporters, Ramaswamy emphasized the need for a governing partner with deep experience in the Statehouse who can help advance an ambitious legislative agenda if they win in November. Ramaswamy called McColley a “proven conservative leader” whose expertise complements his own background as an entrepreneur and policy reformer.

McColley himself used the moment to draw sharp contrasts with his Democratic rival, saying Ohio needs a “businessman, not a bureaucrat; a visionary, not a victim” — a clear political jab aimed at Dr. Amy Acton’s campaign narrative.

Ramaswamy’s ticket-building strategy quickly earned a major boost when Governor Mike DeWine formally endorsed both Ramaswamy and McColley. DeWine, a veteran Republican leader, praised the ticket’s balance of innovation and experience and said McColley brings valuable geographical and legislative strength to the campaign.

“Ohio is winning new business projects from the coasts, and Vivek will keep the momentum going,” DeWine said in a statement. “Senate President McColley knows Ohio and brings respect and balance to the ticket.”

This endorsement helps solidify Ramaswamy’s position as the presumed Republican nominee ahead of the May 5 primary and could mitigate concerns among traditional GOP voters about his outsider résumé.

Not far behind in the strategic race to build winning tickets, Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton announced her lieutenant governor pick: David Pepper, a former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and a veteran local official.

Acton — best known for her leadership as Ohio’s health director during the COVID-19 pandemic — said she chose Pepper for his track record addressing economic challenges and practical policy solutions, particularly for working families and affordability issues throughout the state.

Pepper has held roles on the Cincinnati City Council and the Hamilton County Commission, championing initiatives like foreclosure prevention, prescription drug cost reductions, and earned income tax credits. Acton highlighted these achievements as key to her campaign’s focus on tackling the everyday problems Ohioans face.

Together, Acton and Pepper have already begun joint appearances — including a roundtable discussion on housing affordability — aiming to build momentum and contrast their grassroots-oriented ticket with the Ramaswamy-McColley alliance.

Although both candidates have formally secured running mates, their approaches send very different political signals:

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