The Ohio-based biotech entrepreneur has emerged as a leading contender to succeed Vice President-elect JD Vance in the U.S. Senate.

President-elect Donald Trump has privately encouraged Vivek Ramaswamy to consider an appointment to the US Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance if offered the position by Ohio Gov.

Appointing Ramaswamy to the Senate would offer Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted a cleaner shot to succeed DeWine by eliminating a potential competitor.“DeWine isn’t incentivized to pick Ramaswamy for Senate, but Vivek is also the one roadblock to Husted,” this person said.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed interest in the Ohio U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance, a person with direct knowledge of the biotech entrepreneur's wishes told The Associated Press.

The co-leader of the “Department of Government Efficiency” could move to replace JD Vance in the Senate, though other contenders remain.

Vivek Ramaswamy is a top contender for Ohio's vacant Senate seat, supported by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Although he withdrew his candidacy in Novem

Ohio finance bro Vivek Ramaswamy, who made bank off capital gains, not invention, dripped with derision for working Ohioans and all the Trump supporters responsible for his new position when he unloaded on American culture in his elitist rant last week.

Gov. Mike DeWine must pick someone to replace Vice President-elect JD Vance, who resigned his Senate seat last week.

Vivek Ramaswamy is in discussions about filling Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat in Ohio, two people briefed on the process told NBC News.