Vivek Ramaswamy emerges as a surprise prospect for Vance's old Senate seat

[Polybius]

Source: NBC News

CLEVELAND — Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur positioned to help oversee President-elect Donald Trump’s effort to cut government spending, is in discussions about filling Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat in Ohio, two people briefed on the process told NBC News.

The development is a reversal for Ramaswamy, who in November said his work alongside billionaire Elon Musk at Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency would remove him from consideration for the Senate job.

But Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who will appoint an interim successor to take over Vance's seat, chatted with Ramaswamy about the Senate vacancy in a meeting last weekend at the Governor’s Mansion in Columbus, according to a source familiar with the talks. The source, who was granted anonymity to share details about private conversations, also said Trump has encouraged Ramaswamy to accept the appointment if DeWine offers it.

Trump aides did not respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople for DeWine and Ramaswamy declined to comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/vivek-ramaswamy-emerges-surprise-prospect-vances-old-senate-seat-rcna187883

[Voltaire2]

1. Looks like he doge'd that billet. nt.

[C0RI0LANUS]

6. Good one.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. DeWine is hell bent on making Ohio a national embarrassment.

Appointing this unbearable chucklehead will accomplish that goal for sure. Can’t you do anything right, Mikey.

[NEOBuckeye]

15. He's going to choose Husted.

Ramaswarmy has no pull in Ohio, even among Republicans here. Even Trump can’t save his sorry ass.

Jon Husted is DeWine’s pick. He’ll serve out Vance’s term, by which point Trump will likely be dead or drooling out of his mouth. So there’s little consequence for when the seat is up for grabs.

[Diamond_Dog]

16. Husted is a real fake "Christian "

who has the stink of First Energy bribe scandal all over him.

[Hope22]

19. Yes.

That recent photo of DeWine and Husted looks like two parasites clinging together for one last chance at life. DeWine never does anything for the good of Ohio voters….ever.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Apparently Putin has a list of people he wants installed

Into high level positions.

They will get installed somewhere come hell or high water.

[riversedge]

4. "A bruising GOP primary featuring Husted, Ramaswamy and others could dent DeWine's legacy.".......

OH, have a BIGLY fight!!


...........Though Ramaswamy initially took himself out of the running for the Senate, he has been a constant factor in DeWine’s deliberations over who should replace Vance, who resigned last week in advance of his swearing-in as vice president.

Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native who now lives in the Columbus area, is widely believed to be interested in running to succeed DeWine, who is term-limited, as governor next year. But so is DeWine’s preferred successor, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.

A bruising GOP primary featuring Husted, Ramaswamy and others could dent DeWine’s legacy. Without any clear signal about Ramaswamy’s intentions in 2026, DeWine has considered appointing Husted, a close ally, to the Senate vacancy to better solidify his political future. Whoever DeWine picks would have to win a special election in 2026 to serve the remaining two years of Vance’s term.

[maxsolomon]

5. JFC, DeWine.

You don't need to bend the knee so far that it breaks off. Ramaswany's a malign clown and you know it.

[jgmiller]

7. The guy is crazy but he's not entirely stupid

My guess is he's realized that "working" with crazy Musk is not good for his long term prospects and now he needs an out.

[marble falls]

8. I don't think the voters will go for him at all.

Last edited Fri Jan 17, 2025, 08:11 AM - Edit history (1)

[Blue Owl]

9. I wouldn't call it a surprise

[lonely bird]

10. So...

Vivek Ramasmarmy can’t grift enough standing in Elon’s shadow so he wants to come and screw Ohio some more.

Just fucking wonderful.

The GOP in Ohio is out to out-Florida Florida.

[endgenocide]

11. Senator Ramadamadingdong, has a nice ring to it

[FakeNoose]

12. One good thing about Ramaswamy ... at least he's a bona fide Ohioan

He was born and raised in Ohio and he still lives there, according to his campaign website. (Also according to Wikipedia.)

In Pennsylvania, we get the super-wealthy carpetbaggers trying to take our Senate seats. First it was Dr. Oz who never lived in PA but he wanted to be our Senator. John Fetterman defeated him in 2022. Then we got Dave McCormick who was born in Pittsburgh, but hasn't been a PA resident since he went away to college. He owns mansions in Connecticut and elsewhere, and he's buddies with all the corporate CEOs, wealthy investors, tech bros, and trust-fund families. McCormick managed to come to Pennsylvania last year and defeat our 3-term Democratic Senator Bob Casey.

I have no idea how the Ohio voters will accept Vivek, but look at whom they elected 2 years ago - JD Vance.

[Polybius]

14. And Bernie Moreno in November

He's arguably worse.

[Hope22]

20. ....Vance......they groomed him in CA and air dropped him in Ohio...

And suddenly after millions of dollars of commercials he is an Ohio Senator. I wouldn’t consider Vance an Ohioan.

[JI7]

13. I can't see Ramaswamy actually winning a Republican Primary

becsuse of religion and now he has made those comments about culture which made them more opposed to him.

My guess on why he wants the appointment is that's the only way he can get there right now and he thinks once he is in the Senate he will be able to show them he is worth keeping.

[FloridaBlues]

17. We can hope senator Brown throws his hat in the ring for special election

He will have a good chance of beating him

[FakeNoose]

21. Yes! It would be a shame if former Sen. Brown retired

Here's hoping he decides to run.

[question everything]

23. He is planning

His future options include running again for the Senate in 2026, when there will be a special election to fill the unexpired term of the seat now held by Vice President-elect JD Vance (R).

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016393107

[Marcuse]

18. Another opportunity for Sherrod?

[erpowers]

22. DEI HIre

It appears that Governor DeWine is going to pick someone else, but if it had been indicated that Vivek Ramaswamy was going to be the choice, Democrats should have called him a DEI hire every day. If the Republicans can call Vice President Kamala Harris a DEI hire with all of her experience Democrats should be able to call Ramaswamy a DEI hire. Ramaswamy, like JD Vance, does not have anywhere near the experience that Vice President Harris had before becoming a Senator. I am aware that there is no set amount of experience that is required for someone to become a Senator; however, since Republicans claimed Vice President Harris was a DEI hire, everyone they pick who has less experience than her should be called a DEI hire.

[prodigitalson]

24. if its another uttrerly slimy piece of shit they want, he's the guy