Ramaswamy might run for Senate seat if Vance wins vice presidency

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is open to the idea of serving in the U.S. Senate if Sen. J.D. Vance is elected vice president in November.

Mr. Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate, on Monday said he hadn’t discussed the issue with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, since former President Donald Trump’s selection of Mr. Vance was “hot off the press.” Mr. DeWine, a Republican, would make a temporary appointment.

“To be frank, I would strongly consider it if I were asked to serve,” Mr. Ramaswamy told NBC News’ Hallie Jackson. “But I would also want to have a serious conversation with President Trump about the other ways I could have an impact on the country.”

Mr. Ramaswamy would be among the top contenders for Mr. DeWine to pick for the Senate seat, and some reports suggested he was lobbying for it. Other options include Republican Reps. Dave Joyce and Mike Carey of Ohio, plus state Sen. Matt Dolan, an heir to the Cleveland Guardians baseball franchise, according to Politico.

Mr. Ramaswamy also hinted he would be interested in serving in Mr. Trump’s Cabinet if the former president returns to the White House.

“My top passion is taking on the regulatory state,” Mr. Ramaswamy said. “I think that’s a nonpartisan issue that’s actually impeding our economy. In some ways, it even threatens the American model of self-governance. I think that the administrative state is far too big. There are ways to address that from the executive branch.”

He said decisions about his future would depend on whether Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance win and his conversations with the GOP standard-bearer.

Mr. Ramaswamy rocketed from relative obscurity to the forefront of politics during the GOP primary. He made frequent media appearances and refused to criticize Mr. Trump while floating novel ideas such as requiring young people to take a civics test before voting.