Republican candidates for governor and lieutenant governor
These options are paired like president and vice president at the federal level and are in the order they appear on the ballot:
Casey Putsch and Kimberly C. Georgeton
Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley
*Heather Hill and Stuart Moats are no longer in the race
Casey Putsch for Governor
Lives in Perrysburg; from Tiffin
Political Experience:
Casey Putsch has no previous political experience.
In an interview with the Ohio Capital Journal, Putsch explained his run for governor.
“Well, the simple answer is, I looked around, and I saw options that I thought were in nobody’s best interest.”
Putsch criticized the other Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for being a billionaire, and the Democratic candidate Amy Acton for locking down the state during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
“She [Acton] locked down the state — that’s a non-option. Vivek, a billionaire, he didn’t go to school in Ohio. Heck, he took a scholarship from George Soros’ money. He has no businesses in Ohio.”
Putsch has run into controversy over comments about WWII, Hitler and the Holocaust.
Education:
1999-2005 Undergraduate: Double Major from The Ohio State University
Bachelor of Fine Arts – BFA, Industrial and Product Design
Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design with a focus in engineering technology and robotics
Professional experience:
2018-Present: Director of Putsch Auto Media in Perrysburg
2013-Present: President and founder of The Genius Garage Racing, Aerospace and Design Programs in Bowling Green, Ohio
2008-2021: Project manager, engineer and owner of Putsch Racing based in Perrysburg and Columbus
2018-2019: Writer for Power Automedia, remote work; company based in Murrieta, Calif.
2016-2017: Manager, acquisitions and sales for Central Classic Cars in Sylvania
1997-2008: General manager of Seneca Hills Golf Course in Tiffin
2004-2005: Ferrari technician and sales at NJB Automotive in New Albany, Ohio
Website and links: putschforohio.com
He is running with…
Kimberly C. Georgeton for Lieutenant Governor
Lives in Lebanon, Ohio; from Cincinnati
Political Experience:
Founded Free Our Children — an anti-mask and anti-vaccination group during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Chapter chair for Moms for Liberty
Member of the Warren County Republican Party Central Committee
Ran for U.S. Congress in Ohio’s 2nd District in 2024
Ran for the Ohio House in 2022
Education:
Undergraduate: Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish Studies/Certificate of International Business/Co-Op Program from the University of Cincinnati
Professional experience:
2024-2025: CEO of Cloudality, based in the United States
2019-2024: Managing director for Simplus in Cincinnati
2017-2019: Senior vice president for TradeGlobal in West Chester, Ohio
2016-2017: Vice president of ECommerce for Arhaus in Greater Cleveland
2014-2016: DMM ECommerce media services for Lane Bryant in Columbus
2012-2014: Senior director of ECommerce for Luxottica in Mason, Ohio
2011-2012: Vice president of Ecommerce marketing services for TradeGlobal in West Chester, Ohio
2009-2011: Founder and president of Brilliance in Boxes in Mason, Ohio
2007-2009: Ecommerce manager for Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. West Chester, Ohio
2002-2006: Sales Marketing for NVR, Inc.
1998-2001 Senior buyer/consultant for Amazon in Seattle, Wash.
Website and links: putschforohio.com/about
Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor
Lives in Upper Arlington, Ohio; from Cincinnati
Political Experience:
Vivek Ramaswamy ran as a presidential candidate in the Republican Primary 2023-2024, but lost the primary to current President Donald Trump.
Ramaswamy was part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Elon Musk, before stepping down from his role there to pursue the Ohio Governor’s race.
President Donald Trump endorsed Ramaswamy for the Ohio Governor.
Ramaswamy has written many books on politics and culture including:
Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam. 2021
Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence. 2022
Capitalist Punishment: How Wall Street Is Using Your Money to Create a Country You Didn’t Vote For. 2022
Truths: The Future of America First. 2024
Education:
2003-2007 Undergraduate: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Harvard
Yale Law School Doctor of Law (J.D.)
Professional experience:
2014-2026: Founder and CEO of Roivant in New York
2022-2023: Co-Founder and executive chairman at Strive Asset Managment in Columbus
2007-2014: Partner at QVT
2007-2009: Co-Founder and president of Campus Venture Network
Website and links: vivekforohio.com
He is running with…
Robert A. McColley for Lieutenant Governor
Lives in Napoleon
Political Experience:
2017-Present: State Senator for Ohio Senate’s 1st Senate District including Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams Counties and parts of Auglaize, Fulton and Logan Counties.
2015-2017: State Representative for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 81st district, which includes Henry, Putnam, Williams, and part of Fulton Counties
From Ballotpedia: McColley co-sponsored Senate Bill 23, which prohibited abortion after the detection of a heartbeat. [6] Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed SB 23 on April 11, 2019.
Education:
2003-2007 Undergraduate: Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University
2007-2010 J.D from The University of Toledo College of Law
Professional experience:
2017-Present: State Senator for Ohio Senate’s 1st Senate District including Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams Counties and parts of Auglaize, Fulton and Logan Counties.
2015-Present: Counsel for Clemens, Korhn, Liming & Warncke, LTD.
2015-2017: State Representative for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 81st district, which includes Henry, Putnam, Williams, and part of Fulton Counties
2013-2014: Economic Development Director for Henry County Community Improvement Corporation in Napoleon
2012-2013: Associate Attorney for Leatherman & Witzler in Toledo, Ohio
2010-2011: Associate Attorney for Hyre Legal Group, LP in Columbus, Ohio
2009-2010: Law Clerk for Shindler, Neff, Holmes, Schlageter & Mohler, LLP
Website and links: vivekforohio.com/meet-rob
