Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman has endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, bolstering his status as the frontrunner in the 2026 Ohio governor’s race.
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, has secured a significant endorsement from Matt Huffman, the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. This endorsement marks a crucial moment in his campaign as Huffman is the latest in a line of high-ranking Republicans to support Ramaswamy.
Huffman, who serves Lima and Allen County, announced his endorsement after carefully considering Ramaswamy’s plans for Ohio. In a public statement, he praised Ramaswamy’s vision, stating, “I have concluded that Ramaswamy will be a governor who will make bold plans and certainly have the courage to execute on those plans.”
Reflecting on his own legislative background, Huffman stressed the pivotal role governors play in implementing long-term reforms. He referred to a pivotal moment in his career during a 2012 school choice conference by the Milton Friedman Institute. He recalled insights shared by former Indiana Superintendent of Education Tony Bennett, who stated that lasting policy change is often driven by governors—a view Huffman has seen validated during his 16-year tenure in the Ohio General Assembly.
Huffman lauded Ramaswamy’s focus on individual liberty and economic freedom, emphasizing the candidate’s resolve to challenge existing systems. This endorsement is a key component in Ramaswamy’s campaign, which has been gathering impressive momentum.
On July 1, Ramaswamy’s campaign announced a first-quarter fundraising total of $9.7 million since its launch in late February. This figure sets a record as the largest first-quarter fundraising achievement for a gubernatorial candidate in Ohio history, and notably, it excludes any personal contributions from Ramaswamy, highlighting robust grassroots backing.
Ramaswamy has also garnered endorsements from prominent Republican figures, among them President Donald Trump, U.S. Senator JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., the Ohio Republican Party’s State Central Committee, and all Republican members of Ohio’s congressional delegation.
Since February, Ramaswamy’s campaign has hosted over 50 events across the state, including 36 fundraisers supporting the GOP. These initiatives have accumulated substantial funds to aid other Republican candidates and strengthen party infrastructure.
Ramaswamy aims to succeed Governor Mike DeWine, who is unable to seek re-election due to term limits. On the Democratic side, former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton has announced her candidacy. In contrast, Republican Attorney General Dave Yost withdrew from the race in May, shortly after the Ohio GOP officially endorsed Ramaswamy.
According to New India Abroad, the endorsement from Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman adds significant weight to Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial bid, further cementing his frontrunner status in the race.