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Trump ally Ramaswamy to announce 2026 GOP campaign for Ohio governor in one week

Vivek Ramaswamy will launch his 2026 campaign for Ohio governor in one week, sources confirm to Fox News.

The multi-millionaire biotech entrepreneur, who went from long shot to contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination before dropping out 13 months ago and becoming a top supporter and surrogate of now-President Donald Trump, will announce his candidacy on Feb. 24 in his hometown of Cincinnati.

Ramaswamy will kick off his campaign – in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine – at CTL Aerospace just outside of Cincinnati. AP was first to report the news.

Sources with knowledge say CTL Aerospace, a privately held company that specializes in aviation repair and original equipment manufacturing, symbolizes Ramaswamy’s push for a new age of growth of industry in Ohio.

RAMASWAMY DONE AT DOGE AS HE HEADS BACK ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Vivek Ramaswamy, who is expected to launch a Republican campaign for Ohio governor in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, is seen arriving at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The candidate is expected to make stops over the following two days in the Columbus, Toledo and Cleveland areas.

Ramaswamy, who’s now 39 years old, launched his presidential campaign in February 2023 and quickly saw his stock rise.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON VIVEK RAMASWAMY

He campaigned on what he called an “America First 2.0” agenda and was one of Trump’s biggest supporters in the field of rivals, calling Trump the “most successful president in our century.”

Ramaswamy dropped his White House bid in January of last year after a distant fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses and quickly endorsed Trump, becoming a staple for the former and future president on the campaign trail during the general election.

Vivek Ramaswamy endorses former President Donald Trump during a campaign event in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on Jan. 16, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump, in the days after his November presidential election victory, named Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, along with Ramaswamy, to steer the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which is better known by its acronym DOGE.

But late last month, as Trump was inaugurated, the new administration announced that Ramaswamy was no longer serving at DOGE. Ramaswamy’s exit appeared to clear the way for Musk, Trump’s top donor and key ally, to steer DOGE without having to share the limelight.

“It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!,” Ramaswamy wrote at the time.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were named by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Ramaswamy and Musk sparked a firestorm among Trump’s hard core MAGA supporters over their support for H-1B temporary worker visas for highly skilled workers from foreign countries. Ramaswamy’s comments criticizing an American culture that he said “venerated mediocrity over excellence” received plenty of pushback from some leading voices on the right as well as some in Trump’s political circle.

DeWine announced last month that Lt. Gov. Jon Husted would fill the U.S. Senate seat that was held by JD Vance, Trump’s 2024 running mate, until he stepped down ahead of the inauguration.

Before the Senate announcement, Husted had planned to run for governor in 2026 to succeed DeWine. Ramaswamy, for his part, had expressed interest in serving in the Senate.

Gov. Mike DeWine announces his appointment of Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by JD Vance, on Jan. 17, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julie Carr Smyth)

DeWine’s decision to choose Husted to fill the vacant Senate seat appeared to accelerate Ramaswamy’s move toward launching a run for governor.

Top members of Vance’s political team – including advisors Andy Surabian and Jai Chabria, who played major roles in Vance’s 2022 Senate race and in his vice presidential campaign last summer and autumn – are helping Ramaswamy as he runs for governor.

Tony Fabrizio, the veteran Republican pollster who worked on Trump’s 2016 and 2024 campaigns, as well as Vance’s 2022 Senate campaign, is also on board, as is Arthur Schwartz, a close ally to Vance and Donald Trump Jr.

The race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination could be competitive. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 68, announced last month his candidacy for governor.

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“This is my heart, my home,” Yost said in a press release announcing his candidacy. “I work for the people of Ohio, and I love my bosses. From the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I’m thinking about them and our future.”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost speaks at the Columbiana County Lincoln Day Dinner in Salem, Ohio, on March 15, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Yost also brought in staff from Trump’s political world, announcing that former Trump campaign official Justin Clark had joined the campaign as a general consultant.

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a well-known former Ohio State University head football coach who was sworn in last month to succeed Husted, appears to be mulling a gubernatorial run.

Former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is currently the only Democrat in the race.

Ohio, which was once a top general election battleground, has shifted red over the past decade as Republicans have dominated statewide elections.

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Ramaswamy was raised in Evendale, Ohio, in suburban Cincinnati by parents who emigrated from India. His father worked as an engineer at General Electric Aviation and his mother was a geriatric psychiatrist. Ramaswamy and his family currently live in suburban Columbus.

The soon-to-be candidate filed paperwork on Friday with the Ohio secretary of state’s office ahead of his campaign launch.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

February 17, 2025
Top Trump official teases 2026 bid for California governor if Harris jumps in race

One of President Donald Trump’s top aides is floating a potential bid for California governor if former Vice President Kamala Harris also runs.

Richard Grenell, a longtime Trump loyalist who is serving as U.S. envoy for special missions in the president’s second administration, ended a gaggle with reporters at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday by teasing, “I’ll make a little news.”

Grenell then pointed to the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California.

“If Kamala Harris runs for governor, I believe that she has such baggage and hundreds of millions of dollars in educating the voters of how terrible she is, that it’s a new day in California and that the Republican actually has a shot,” Grenell said.

SOURCES TELL FOX NEWS THIS TRUMP SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA SHERIFF WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR

Former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell speaks on stage on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

There has been plenty of speculation since Harris’ defeat last November, regarding her next political move, with the two potential options likely being launching a 2026 gubernatorial run in her home state of California or seeking the presidency again in 2028.

Harris served as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general and U.S. senator before becoming vice president.

MAJOR CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT PREEDICTS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WOULD CLEAR GUBERNATORIAL FIELD

Sources in the former vice president’s political orbit say no decisions have been made about any next steps.

The Democrats’ field for governor in the heavily blue-leaning state is already crowded.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Among the more than a half-dozen candidates already running for governor are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, a Harris ally, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Former Rep. Katie Porter, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Senate nomination last year, has expressed interest in launching a campaign.

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who served in Congress and as California attorney general before joining the Biden administration, is also seen as a potential contender.

But pundits predict that Harris could clear the Democrats’ field if she decides to launch a gubernatorial campaign.

It’s been nearly two decades since a Republican won statewide office in California. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election victory.

Grenell considered a run for California governor during the 2021 recall election that Newsom eventually ended up easily winning, but he ultimately decided against launching a campaign.

FILE – Then-former President Donald Trump speaks next to Richard Grenell during a presidential election campaign event at a farm in Smithton, Pa., on Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Grenell served as ambassador to Germany and as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term.

In his role as U.S. envoy for special missions in Trump’s second administration, he took part in a mission to Venezuela that led to the release of six hostages.

Grenell also joined the president in Los Angeles last month to survey the horrific wildfire damage in the area. Grenell, who along with Trump blasted state and local Democratic leaders for their performance handling the wildfire crisis, returned to Los Angeles last week as he accompanied EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on a recovery tour.

Grenell isn’t the only California Republican considering or moving toward a gubernatorial campaign in 2026 in the race to succeed Newsom.

Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Fox News confirmed earlier this week that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is planning to announce his candidacy at a scheduled event Monday in Riverside, California.

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And former Fox News Channel host and conservative commentator Steve Hilton is considering a Republican run for California governor.

In California, unlike most other states, the top two finishers in a primary, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election.

Fox News’ Kaitlin Sprague contributed to this report.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

February 14, 2025
Trump supporting California sheriff to launch GOP run for governor in race to succeed Newsom: sources

A tough-on-crime Republican sheriff in southern California who was a supporter of President Trump in last year’s election will launch a campaign for Golden State governor, a source familiar confirms to Fox News.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is expected to announce his candidacy at a scheduled event Monday in Riverside, California, about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Bianco, a vocal critic of Newsom and other state Democratic leaders when it comes to the issues of crime and punishment, was one of the leaders who helped push California’s Proposition 36 ballot measure to a landslide victory in last November’s elections.

WHAT SHERIFF CHAD BIANCO TOLD FOX NEWS

Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The measure, which took effect in December, mandates stiffer penalties and longer sentences in California for certain drug and theft crimes.

MAJOR CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT PREEDICTS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WOULD CLEAR GUBERNATORIAL FIELD

Bianco, who has worked in law enforcement for more than three decades, was first elected sheriff in 2018. He’s been openly flirting with a 2026 gubernatorial run since at least last spring.

House Speaker Mike Johnson listens to Sheriff Chad Bianco speak during a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

When asked late last year in a Fox News interview if he knew of anyone who might be capable of producing change in Sacramento – California’s capital city – Bianco responded, “I might, I might know someone that would go there with nothing but common sense and the betterment of the citizens of California rather than some crazy ideological agenda that truly makes absolutely no sense to any of us.”

The news regarding Bianco was first reported by Politico.

It’s been nearly two decades since a Republican won statewide office in heavily blue California. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election victory.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election in 2026. (California Governor Gavin Newsom YouTube channel)

There has been plenty of speculation since former Vice President Kamala Harris’ election defeat last November to Trump regarding her next political move, with the two potential options likely being launching a 2026 gubernatorial run in her home state of California or seeking the presidency again in 2028.

Harris served as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general and U.S. senator before becoming vice president.

Sources in the former vice president’s political orbit say no decisions have been made about any next steps.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks at the Democratic National Committee’s holiday reception in Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The Democrats’ field for governor in the heavily blue-leaning state is already crowded.

Among the more than half-dozen candidates already running for governor are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, a Harris ally, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

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Former Rep. Katie Porter, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Senate nomination last year, has expressed interest in launching a campaign.

Additionally, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who served in Congress and as California attorney general before joining the Biden administration, is also seen as a potential contender.

Former Fox News Channel host and conservative commentator Steve Hilton is considering a Republican run for California governor.

In California, unlike most other states, the top two finishers in a primary, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

February 13, 2025
Ex-Ohio State star has 2-word reaction to Jim Tressel being nominated as Ohio’s lieutenant governor

Jim Tressel was nominated as the next lieutenant governor of Ohio on Monday, and it drew a reaction from one of his former star players while he coached at Ohio State.

Terrelle Pryor, who was the quarterback for the Buckeyes from 2008 to 2010, had a two-word show of support for Tressel.

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Former head coach Jim Tressel watches a scoreboard tribute for the 2002 national championship team during the game between Notre Dame and Ohio State, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

“My guy,” he wrote in a post on his Instagram Stories on Monday.

Pryor passed for 2,772 yards and 27 touchdowns in his final season with the Buckeyes in 2010. It proved to be Tressel’s last season with the Buckeyes as well.

Tressel and Pryor were both caught up in an improper benefits scandal. The NCAA, after an investigation with the FBI and the Justice Department, determined Tressel, Pryor and other Buckeyes players violated the organization’s policies over impermissible benefits. Players were accused of receiving tattoos or cash for autographs.

Tressel was accused of withholding information in the investigation and resigned before the start of the 2011 season. Pryor left the school before his final year.

COLORADO’S DEION SANDERS EXPLAINS AVERSION TO COACHING IN NFL

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor is embraced by coach Jim Tressel after the Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks on Jan. 1, 2010, in Pasadena, California. (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA Today Sports)

Pryor went on to play wide receiver in the NFL and put together a solid career. Tressel never coached in the collegiate ranks again. Instead, he served as Youngstown State University’s president from 2014 to 2023.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine nominated Tressel for lieutenant governor after Jon Husted replaced Vice President JD Vance in the U.S. Senate.

“Jim Tressel is Ohio values. He’s a hard worker and shares that vision (I have) for the future of Ohio,” the Republican governor said Monday at a news conference. “He has the ability to pull people together. He has the ability to lead. He will enable me to be assured that if something happens to me, he can walk in and be governor that day and that would be seamless.”

Tressel expressed his admiration for DeWine.

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Coach Jim Tressel, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, second from left, and teammates after beating Ohio University on Sept. 18, 2010. (The Columbus Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)

“I want to study a little bit about what Jon Husted has going on, and so I want to learn the business, if you will,” he said. “And then it’s up to when you sit down with the team and the staff and everyone else trying to figure out who plays what position best. And I’d be more than happy to help wherever I can.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 11, 2025
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announces bid for New Mexico governor

Former Interior Sec. Deb Haaland has announced a New Mexico gubernatorial bid.

The politician, who served in a cabinet post during most of former President Joe Biden’s White House tenure, previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“But the problems we face now are bigger than ever, and we must be fierce to solve them. That’s why I am running for governor of the great state of New Mexico,” she said in a video.

STRANGE LAWS IN NEW MEXICO, INCLUDING TROUBLE FOR TRIPPING A HORSE

President Joe Biden greets Department of the Interior Sec. Deb Haaland during the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit at the Department of the Interior on Nov. 30, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

“New Mexico is rich in tradition and spirit, rich in natural resources. So why can’t our families pay our bills? Crime, poverty, homelessness, addiction — they will keep pulling us down if we do the same things and expect a different result,” she declared.

Last month on Jan. 20 — the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated — Haaland suggested in a post on X that the new administration does not care about “regular people.”

VIDEO CAPTURES COURTROOM BRAWL AS TWO MEN ATTACK MURDER SUSPECT DURING HEARING

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks at a ceremony with President Joe Biden at the Department of Labor on Dec. 16, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“With the inauguration of President Trump, there’s a lot at stake. He surrounds himself with super-rich people who look down on us and our communities. We will need to do the hard work of getting important things done and pushing back against an administration that couldn’t care less about regular people,” Haaland tweeted.

Current New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who has served as governor since 2019, is not eligible to run in 2026.

2028 WATCH: HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY EVENTUALLY JUMP INTO THE NEXT WHITE HOUSE RACE

The American flag and state of New Mexico flag fly side-by-side at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, N.M. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

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The state went to Democrats in the 2008 through 2024 presidential elections. But its prior governor, Susana Martinez, was a Republican.

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

February 11, 2025
Fox News Politics News Letter: Ex-college football coach tapped by governor

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.

Here’s what’s happening…

–Tulsi Gabbard faces next test in confirmation battle with key Senate hurdle

-Trump says he ordered firing of military academies’ Board of Visitors

-ICE arrests homeless illegal immigrant who asked to be detained or else he would ‘go out and commit crimes’

A ‘born leader’ in Ohio

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Monday that he is nominating former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel to serve as the state’s lieutenant governor.

“Jim Tressel is Ohio values,” DeWine said at a news conference announcing the nomination of Tressel to replace former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who DeWine appointed to the U.S. Senate last month.

“He’s a hard worker and shares that vision (I have) for the future of Ohio. He has the ability to pull people together. He has the ability to lead. He will enable me to be assured that if something happens to me, he can walk in and be governor that day and that would be seamless.”…Read more

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, Left, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. right (Getty/AP)

White House

TRADE WARS: Here’s how Trump’s tariffs on China could impact drug pricing and other healthcare costs…Read more

STUDY FUNDS: Trump sparks backlash after cutting billions in overhead costs from NIH research grants…Read more

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a $9 billion spending cut in response to a new mandate from the Trump administration. (Alamy/Getty Images)

OVERRULED: Trump DOJ calls judge’s DOGE order ‘anti-constitutional’…Read more

World Stage

‘SERIOUS S—‘: Iran’s campaign trail threats against Trump more serious than publicly reported, book claims…Read more

‘DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENT’: Egypt planning ’emergency’ Arab summit on Palestinian territory as Trump insists US ‘own’ Gaza…Read more

‘TRUMP WAS RIGHT’: 5-figure ad buy urges states to crack down as China floods market with illicit vapes…Read more

Side-by-side of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping (Getty)

Capitol Hill

RADIOACTIVE RECALL: AZ Senate leader urges Burgum to reverse Biden-Obama ‘land grabs’ on uranium sites…Read more

SO MUCH WINNING: The confirmation juggernaut: How Trump is getting everything he wants in building his Cabinet…Read more

DRAGGING DOGE DOWN: Schumer reveals Dem counter-offensive against Trump’s DOGE audit…Read more

WOLFPACK: More than 100 lawmakers join Congressional DOGE Caucus…Read more

SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Dems flirt with government shutdown threat despite past furor over spending cliff…Read more

(Getty/Fox News Illustration )

TEAM EFFORT: Senate GOP campaign committee looks to streamline operations to hold majority in 2026…Read more

CRACKING DOWN: House, Senate lawmakers move to slap limits on NGOs aiding illegal immigrants, amid Trump funding crackdown…Read more

X FACTOR: Elon Musk embraces X platform as key tool in DOGE transparency amid onslaught of attacks from Dems…Read more

UPSTATE SHOWDOWN: NY GOP fumes Dems ‘could give a s—t’ about democracy as Stefanik seat targeted in new bill…Read more

Across America

‘STRENGTH IS OUR UNITY’: Hegseth bans transgender people from joining military, pauses gender care to follow Trump guidance…Read more

‘WASTEFUL SPENDING’: Department of Veterans Affairs cancels $178K in subscriptions to Politico Pro…Read more

CUTTING MORE WASTE: Interview with nonprofit calling out National Human Trafficking Hotline for wasting government funds on ineffective system…Read more

‘CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS’: The Impoundment Control Act takes center stage in Washington…Read more

NEW BIG APPLE BALLOTS?: 800,000 non-citizens could soon be voting in New York City’s elections…Read more

Voters received an “I Voted” sticker after casting their ballot. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

REVAMPING FEMA: ‘Get rid of FEMA the way it exists today,’ says Sec. Noem…Read more

‘KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE’: Blue-state lawmakers consider bill to roll back sanctuary policies…Read more

SCHOOLED: Russ Vought offers one-word response after his alma mater deletes message congratulating him on confirmation…Read more

Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

This article was written by Fox News staff.

February 10, 2025
‘Born leader’: Ohio governor nominates former legendary college football coach as lieutenant governor

Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Monday that he is nominating former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel to serve as the state’s lieutenant governor.

“Jim Tressel is Ohio values,” DeWine said at a news conference announcing the nomination of Tressel to replace former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who DeWine appointed to the U.S. Senate last month.

“He’s a hard worker and shares that vision (I have) for the future of Ohio. He has the ability to pull people together. He has the ability to lead. He will enable me to be assured that if something happens to me, he can walk in and be governor that day and that would be seamless.”

Tressel, who DeWine called a “born leader,” was head coach of Ohio State University’s football team from 2001 to 2010. The Buckeyes won the 2002 national championship during Tressel’s tenure along with six Big Ten championships and a record of 9-1 against rival Michigan.

NEXT OHIO SENATOR, A ‘FISCAL CONSERVATIVE,’ AIMS TO ‘GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF PEOPLE’S LIVES’

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, Left, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. right (Getty/AP)

Tressel, 72, retired a year and a half ago as president of Youngstown State University, a job he had held since 2014. Since then, he has been engaged in workforce and economic development activities.

“With his wealth of experience in the education field, Jim understands its importance in building Ohio’s workforce of tomorrow,” Ohio Chamber President & CEO Steve Stivers said in a statement, saying Tressel would prioritize workforce development “for the benefit of the business community and all Ohioans.”

SENATORS BACK VIVEK RAMASWAMY FOR OHIO GOVERNOR AHEAD OF EXPECTED GUBERNATORIAL BID

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is carried on the shoulders of his 2002 national championship team during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Tressel’s nomination must now be approved by the Ohio Senate and Ohio House, which are both led by Republican supermajorities.

“I want to study a little bit about what Jon Husted has going on, and so I want to learn the business, if you will,” Tressel, a political newcomer, said at the press conference. “And then it’s up to when you sit down with the team and the staff and everyone else trying to figure out who plays what position best. And I’d be more than happy to to help wherever I can.”

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is seen onstage at the Fiserv Forum during preparations for the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisc. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich congratulated Tressel in an X post saying, “Jim Tressel always puts one foot in front of the other trying to improve our world. Good luck, @JimTressel5.”

DeWine, who must retire in 2026 due to term limits, said the two have not discussed if Tressel plans to run for governor, which would put him in a race against the state’s Republican attorney general, Dave Yost, and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is expected to jump into the race this month.

Former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton is running as a Democrat.

Associated Press contributed to this report

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to [email protected].

February 10, 2025
Harris dodges questions about political future, possible run for California governor

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is not giving any hints about her political future, despite speculation of a possible California gubernatorial bid in 2026.

Harris has mostly kept quiet since leaving Washington, D.C., last month after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, aside from a Jan. 20 visit to Altadena, California, to tour the Eaton wildfire damage.

On Thursday, the former vice president toured areas damaged by the Palisades Fire and spoke with displaced residents at a Red Cross shelter. When addressing reporters that same day, Harris made it clear that she is not ready to announce her next move just yet.

“I have been home for two weeks and three days,” Harris said. “My plans are to be in touch with my community, to be in touch with the leaders and figure out what I can do to support them.”

MAJOR CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT PREDICTS KAMALA HARRIS WOULD BE ‘FIELD-CLEARING’ IF FORMER VP RUNS FOR GOVERNOR

When pressed by Fox 11 LA about her political future, Harris said she “would be here no matter what office I hold because it is the right thing to do.”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, right, hugs County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath as she tours a fire damaged neighborhood with LA County officials. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

While the former vice president has not commented on President Donald Trump’s response to the California wildfires, a Harris advisor told Fox 11 that the two former rivals have spoken multiple times behind the scenes.

After the Pacific Palisades visit, Harris and former second gentleman Doug Emhoff were spotted at the Los Angeles Lakers-Golden State Warriors NBA game at LA’s Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.

Former Vice-President Kamala Harris enjoys a game between the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Political insiders and Americans alike have speculated on Harris’ next moves after her crushing loss to Trump in November. During a desk drawer signing ceremony — a decadeslong tradition — Harris told staff that she would not “go quietly into the night,” and that their “work is not done.”

Late last month, New York Magazine reported that Harris was seeking advice from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who also lost to Trump during her own White House bid.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris tours a damaged neighborhood with LA County officials on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR? ANOTHER WHITE HOUSE RUN? KAMALA HARRIS UNSURE OF NEXT STEPS AFTER LOSING ELECTION: REPORT

Prior to her time as vice president, Harris represented California in the U.S. Senate and served as the state’s attorney general. Her political experience in the state has led many to believe that she may seek the top spot. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s time in office will end in 2026, and due to the state’s term limits, he is ineligible to run again.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, left, is thanked by resident Jaimee Longo as she tours a fire-damaged neighborhood. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Amid speculation about a possible gubernatorial run, there are also those who wonder if Harris will try for the White House again. In 2019, Harris launched her first presidential bid, which ended with her in the number two slot alongside Biden.

Harris’ second presidential bid had an unusual start after Biden ended his re-election campaign in July 2024 and immediately endorsed his vice president. Harris’ campaign ended in a crushing defeat, as Trump won both the Electoral College and popular votes.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

February 7, 2025
Major California Democrat predicts Kamala Harris would be ‘field-clearing’ if former VP runs for governor

California Attorney General Rob Bonta says he will support former Vice President Kamala Harris if she decides to run for Golden State governor in 2026.

Bonta, a former state lawmaker who has served as California attorney general since 2021, says he will run for re-election next year rather than launch a gubernatorial campaign, putting to rest speculation about his next political moves.

“Kamala Harris would be a great governor,” Bonta said in an interview with Politico.

THESE DEMOCRATS MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he would seek re-election in 2026 rather than run for governor. (Loren Elliott/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“I would support her if she ran. I’ve always supported her in everything she’s done. She would be field-clearing,” he said as he added that he had not spoken directly with Harris about any potential run for governor.

WHY CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot run for re-election again in 2026.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with Fox News Digital at the Donald Trump-Joe Biden presidential debate on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Harris served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and represented the Golden State in the U.S. Senate before becoming vice president.

There has been plenty of speculation since her election defeat last November to President Donald Trump regarding Harris’ next political move, with the two potential options likely being launching a 2026 gubernatorial run in her home state or seeking the presidency again, in 2028.

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Sources in the former vice president’s political orbit say no decisions have been made about any next steps.

However, Harris, in a video message to the Democratic National Committee, as it huddled for its winter meeting last weekend, pledged to be with the party “every step of the way,” which appeared to be a signal she still has political ambitions.

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris delivers her remarks at the Democratic National Committee’s Holiday Reception at Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The Democrats’ field for governor in the heavily blue-leaning state is already crowded.

Among the more than half-dozen candidates already running for governor are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis – a Harris ally – and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

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Former Rep. Katie Porter, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Senate nomination last year, has expressed interest in launching a campaign.

Additionally, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who served in Congress and as California attorney general before joining the Biden administration, is also seen as a potential contender.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

February 5, 2025
Senators back Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor ahead of expected gubernatorial bid

Entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy, who is expected to launch a gubernatorial bid in the Buckeye State, is racking up support from U.S. senators.

GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee both expressed their support for Ramaswamy in posts on Monday.

“If @VivekGRamaswamy runs for governor of Ohio (and I hope he does) he will not only win—he will transform Ohio for the better,” Lee declared in a tweet. “The results will benefit Ohioans—and Americans—for generations I’m honored to have worked with @VivekGRamaswamy, and I support him wholeheartedly.”

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Vivek Ramaswamy arrives to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“It’s been such a pleasure getting to know @VivekGRamaswamy and work with him. He has a servant’s heart and a brilliant entrepreneurial mind. The people of Ohio would be well served by his leadership, and if he chooses to run, he’ll have my full support,” Blackburn noted in a post.

Ramaswamy retweeted each of the lawmakers’ posts, thanking them.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., a former Florida governor, endorsed Ramaswamy for Ohio governor last week.

“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with @VivekGRamaswamy and he is totally focused on trying to save our country. He is a business guy who understands what’s needed to grow jobs, make government efficient and help families prosper. He would be a fantastic Governor and I hope he runs for Governor of Ohio. If he runs, he has my full support and endorsement.” Scott noted in a tweet.

Ramaswamy retweeted Scott and thanked him.

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Ramaswamy has not yet made an announcement, but has been hinting about his plans.

During an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Ramaswamy stated that he would seek elected office.

“Ohio was the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution. Toledo was the glass capital, Akron was the rubber capital, Youngstown & Cleveland led in steel, Dayton in computing, Cincinnati in consumer products. In 1950, 6 of the 15 wealthiest U.S. cities were in Ohio. There’s no reason we can’t be a frontier state again,” he declared in a tweet.

The Ohio gubernatorial race will take place in 2026.

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Current Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who has held the role since early 2019, is not eligible to run again next year.

Last year, Trump announced Elon Musk and Ramaswamy as his picks to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort, but on inauguration day, Ramaswamy noted in a post on X, “It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio.”

Ramaswamy launched a White House bid in 2023, but dropped out and endorsed Trump in 2024.

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

February 4, 2025