JD Vance backs Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio race after Cincinnati heckling

JD Vance has publicly endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's governor race. The backing reinforces Ramaswamy after recent booing and keeps Trump allies aligned behind him.US Vice President J D Vance has backed fellow Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio governor's race, calling him a "great friend" and saying he will "make a great Governor".Vance's endorsement came weeks after 41-year-old Ramaswamy was booed and heckled off stage at the Young Americans for Liberty conference in Cincinnati, where his remarks angered what was expected to be a friendly crowd.Speaking at a rally in Ohio on Friday, Vance said, "We've also got, I believe, a great gubernatorial candidate, but also a great next governor of Ohio, my friend Vivek Ramaswamy." He added, "I don't think that anybody needed to encourage Vivek to go to the polling location that day. When your name is on the ballot, nobody needs to make you go vote. But Vivek's going to make a great governor for the state of Ohio."Backed by US President Donald Trump, Ramaswamy won the Republican primary in May and is now the party's candidate for the November election to choose Ohio's governor. Ramaswamy, a former co-chair of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, had also launched a presidential campaign in 2024 before dropping out and backing Trump. The son of immigrants from Kerala, he was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, studied at Harvard University and Yale Law School, and later entered the biotechnology and financial sectors.He founded the biotech firm Roivant Sciences and served as its chief executive officer from 2014 to 2021. With Vance now publicly backing him after his primary win and recent campaign setback, Ramaswamy remains the Republican candidate for Ohio's gubernatorial election in November. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 22, 2026 11:34 IST