Teamsters back Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio governor’s race

Leading Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has secured the support of a top labor union.

The 50,000+ strong Ohio Conference of Teamsters, which is a subset of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, endorsed his campaign this week, according to Semafor.

Our big-tent coalition continues to grow. Grateful for the support from Ohio’s workers. We’re going to create an economic environment that lifts up our hard-working men & women. Thank you, @Teamsters! https://t.co/dNvuGPsI5I

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) September 19, 2025

“Our members want a leader who will fight for good-paying jobs and strengthen the future for Ohio’s working families,” Ohio Conference president Patrick J. Darrow said in a statement to the outlet.

“Vivek has demonstrated a commitment to listening to labor and partnering with us to deliver real results, and we look forward to working with him,” Darrow added.

Ramaswamy celebrated the endorsement.

“This isn’t about left vs. right, it’s about up vs. down,” he told Fox News. “We are building a movement that restores dignity to work, rewards those who keep our economy moving, and ensures every Ohioan has a fair shot at the American Dream.”

“Together, we will make Ohio the best place in America to work, raise a family, and pursue a better life for the next generation,” he added.

This comes after Ramaswamy already received endorsements from the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters, the Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council, and the Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council.

BREAKING: The Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters, representing 37,000 skilled tradesmen and women across OH, IN & KY, is backing Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor.

In 2022, they backed Democrat Tim Ryan. Now? They’re with Vivek

This is the fourth major labor… pic.twitter.com/4GRZ2qjSPv

— Ohio Republican Party (@ohiogop) September 10, 2025

Semafor admitted in its write-up that these endorsements are “the latest sign that unions are shifting toward Republicans and away from Democrats in Ohio.”

Regarding the Ohio Conference in particular, Semafor noted that “[f]or almost two decades, the broader union’s political arm mostly backed Democrats — but they’ve begun donating more to Republicans in the last two years.”

Moreover, during the 2024 presidential race, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters refused to endorse a candidate for the first time since 1996, despite having previously endorsed Democrats.

Some attributed this to the fact that polling data showed that a 60 percent majority of Teamsters preferred President Donald Trump over then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Facts:

For the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, support for Trump among the rank and file is so robust — almost 60 percent nationally, according to its internal polling — that the union opted not to endorse any presidential candidate this year.https://t.co/OrVAkQIcFs

— Deplorabus Maximus (@DeplorabusM) May 30, 2025

The Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, for its par,t previously endorsed former Rep. Tim Ryan’s 2022 bid for a Senate seat. Yet the union chose Ramaswamy this time around despite Ryan reportedly mulling jumping into the gubernatorial race.

“We have no idea what Tim’s going to do,” union political consultant Willie Koester told The Columbus Dispatch. “We kind of try to read the tea leaves, and we believe that Vivek is going to be the next governor.”

“Ohio’s a lot more red than it used to be,” he added.

In fact, the whole country is a lot more red than it used to be. But, Koester continued, Ramaswamy has also been putting in the work.

“He has taken a real interest in what we do,” he noted. “Vivek is not a good candidate. We feel he is an outstanding candidate.”

In a statement to the Dispatch, Ramaswamy praised the union.

“Their members keep our communities running and our economy strong, and their apprenticeship programs prepare Ohioans for good-paying careers with dignity,” he said. “As governor, I’ll partner with the association to strengthen opportunities for working families across the state.”

Ramaswamy’s most likely opponent in the 2026 gubernatorial race will be former Ohio Department of Health director Amy Acton.

“As someone who raised her family in a union household, Amy understands how critical organized labor is to ensuring working families in Ohio can afford to live their lives with a little breathing room,” her campaign manager, Phil Stein, said.

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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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