Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) was reportedly scrambling this week to prevent his state's Republican Party from endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy, an ally to President Donald Trump, for governor.
The state party was expected to endorse Ramaswamy at a Friday meeting, but according to NBC News, DeWine was working behind the scenes to derail the announcement.
"The move also reinforces long-standing tensions in the state between the old guard, establishment GOP that DeWine is trying to preserve and Trump's MAGA movement, which counts younger figures like Vance and Ramaswamy among its next generation," NBC noted.
"I think he would like to forestall an endorsement taking place, because I think he would like to see if he can convince Jim Tressel to run for governor," one Republican insider told the outlet.
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DeWine declined to respond to the report but insisted that it was too early to endorse a candidate for a primary that does not take place until next year.
"As far as who I endorse in the Republican primary for Governor, it is much too early, as we do not even know who all will be in the race," DeWine said in a statement on Tuesday. "We are now 364 days away from the primary and 293 days away from the filing deadline. In politics, this is a lifetime!"
An ally to Ramaswamy argued that DeWine was "wrong on every major Republican fight."
"If Trump backs you, DeWine's guaranteed to take the losing side," the source asserted. "The establishment isn't just out of touch — it's out of time. And the state central committee will prove that again this Friday."
For his part, Trump has already endorsed Ramaswamy.
