DeSantis Blames Ramaswamy for Ohio Governor’s Race Loss

DeSantis said the Ohio Republican Party should not have chosen Ramaswamy as its gubernatorial nominee, arguing that the biotech entrepreneur was out of step with voters in a blue-collar state. He made the remarks on The Sage Steele Show as Republicans assessed their election losses.

DeSantis Turns Ohio Loss Into an Attack on Ramaswamy

DeSantis blamed Ramaswamy’s defeat in Ohio on a candidate he said did not reflect the state’s blue-collar electorate. The Republican governor criticized Ramaswamy’s support for H-1B visas, arguing that a nominee associated with bringing in foreign workers could not appeal to working-class Ohioans.

Ramaswamy lost to Democrat Amy Acton, who won 52% of the vote to his 44%. He founded Roivant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical and technology company, and has defended companies’ reliance on foreign talent, saying American culture has celebrated mediocrity.

The criticism comes as Ohio voters have faced the loss of roughly 300,000 manufacturing jobs since 1999, while an early September poll found the economy and inflation were their leading concerns. DeSantis has also said Republicans failed to address affordability and government accountability, and that frustrated voters stayed home.

The episode highlights the strain in Republican politics between an appeal to workers and support for visa programs that employers use to recruit foreign talent. DeSantis is now using Ramaswamy’s loss to argue that the party chose a nominee who could not connect with Ohio voters.

Ohio Republicans Chose a Nominee Who Couldn’t Connect

DeSantis said Ohio Republicans made a mistake by nominating Ramaswamy, arguing that his profile and positions did not match a working-class, blue-collar state. Ramaswamy lost to Acton, 52% to 44%.

The Florida governor singled out Ramaswamy’s support for H-1B visas, which allow employers to bring in foreign workers. Ramaswamy has argued that companies rely on overseas workers since American society has elevated mediocrity. DeSantis said that position was a poor fit for Ohio voters.

The result comes amid economic concerns: Ohio lost about 300,000 manufacturing jobs from 1999 to 2025, and voters in an early September poll ranked the economy and inflation as their top issues. DeSantis has argued that Republicans also damaged their prospects by failing to address affordability and government accountability, leaving some supporters frustrated with the party’s performance.

His critique is a warning that Republicans cannot win working-class voters by nominating a candidate who does not speak to their concerns. The party’s choice of Ramaswamy, DeSantis said, was part of the problem.