Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has a clear path to the GOP nomination for Ohio governor after the state’s attorney general, Dave Yost, announced on Friday that he is suspending his short-lived campaign.

Yost said his chances went from a “steep climb” to “a vertical cliff” after the Ohio GOP through its support behind Ramaswamy last week for the 2026 race, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

“I do not wish to divide my political party or my state with a quixotic battle over the small differences between my vision and that of my opponent. I am simply not that important,” Yost added.

President Donald Trump backed Ramaswamy’s bid immediately after the tech entrepreneur launched his campaign in February. Ramaswamy was initially set to work in the Trump administration alongside Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, but it was revealed on Inauguration Day that he would not serve in that role.

Yost said he wants Republicans to focus on defeating Democrats instead of a “family squabble.”

“Columbus needs re-engineering, not demolition,” Yost wrote in a letter to his supporters. “Sherrod Brown and the risky progressive ideas of his party will unwind all of the good that the last 15 years of Republican leadership has brought. This is a time to protect Ohio, not a time for a family squabble.”

Ramaswamy praised Yost in a statement and said that the attorney general will continue to play a role in the state’s political future.

“Congratulations to Dave on running a thoughtful campaign,” Ramaswamy said. “He has served Ohio with great dedication, and I am confident he will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of our state and our nation.”

While the Ohio GOP rallies behind Ramaswamy, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel — the former Ohio State football coach — said last week that he is considering jumping into the race, NBC News reported. Tressel was tapped by current Republcian Gov. Mike DeWine to become lieutenant governor after Jim Husted was appointed to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Vice President JD Vance.

“What has been a surprise, and it has been humbling, is how many people are encouraging me to run for Governor,” Tressel said.

“I have not decided yet, but when I became Lieutenant Governor in February, Ellen told me that it seemed like God had more work for me to do, and she was right,” he added, referring to his wife. “While I have not ruled out a run for Governor — and there will be a time in the future for those conversations — for now, I will remain focused on helping Ohioans get off the sidelines and into our workforce so they can reach their full potential.”

In the GOP primary, Ramaswamy’s only declared opponent is Heather Hill, the former president of the Morgan County, Ohio, School Board, who is running a longshot bid.

On the Democratic side, the former director of the Ohio Department of Health, Amy Acton, is the only candidate who has jumped into the race. Along with former Sen. Brown, former U.S. Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan has expressed interest in running for Ohio governor.

WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump returns to the United States from his weeklong trip to the Middle East, leaders of almost 50 companies praised the president for securing over $2 trillion in deals.

The president’s trip to the Middle East resulted in a number of deals, including a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia, $200 billion in commercial deals between the U.S. and United Arab Emirates, $1.2 trillion economic exchange agreement with Qatar, and $243.5 billion in U.S.-Qatar commercial and defense deals, according to the White House.

The administration is touting the trip as not only historic, but also one that strengthened safety and stability in the Middle East.

“The numbers don’t lie,” White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers told The Daily Wire. “President Trump secured trillions of dollars in great deals, and his first foreign trip was a huge success. These historic investments and landmark agreements are a direct result of the economic climate President Trump has quickly developed.”

Business leaders who are benefitting from the deals were vociferous in their praise of the president’s efforts on Friday afternoon. That includes leaders from Lockheed Martin, Palantir, Qualcomm, Amazon, Google, and more.

“We appreciate President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman convening business leaders in Saudi Arabia to strengthen economic ties and drive innovation between our two countries,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said of the U.S. Saudi deals. “Amazon is excited to partner with HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia’s newly created AI innovation company, to collectively invest more than $5 billion to build a groundbreaking ‘AI Zone’ there, which will bring multiple innovative AWS AI capabilities to Saudi Arabia along with skills training for 100,000 citizens from the Kingdom.”

Ruth Porat, Alphabet and Google President and Chief Investment Officer, also expressed gratitude to Trump for the Saudi deals, praising the “engagement and policies of the Trump Administration and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who are enabling strong execution to accelerate AI innovation in both countries.”

“Together,” she said, “we will create highly-skilled jobs and deliver AI training programs to open new, rewarding career pathways.”

DataVolt CEO Rajit Nanda argued that the Saudi partnership was “made possible in large part due to the enabling technology and trade frameworks advanced during the Trump Administration—policies that championed high-tech exports, strengthened U.S.-Saudi strategic ties, which have empowered entrepreneurial collaboration in the digital era.”

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – MAY 15: U.S. President Donald J. Trump tours the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

And Oracle CEO Safra Catz thanked Trump for his leadership and “decisive actions,” actions that allow Oracle to provide “the world’s most advanced cloud and AI technology to Saudi Arabia.”

“Our expanded partnership with the Kingdom will create new opportunities for its economy, deliver better health outcomes for its people, and fortify its alliance with the United States, which will create a ripple effect of peace and prosperity across the Middle East and around the world,” Catz said.

As for the Quatar deals, Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg touted a historic order, the “largest-ever for Boeing’s widebody planes.”

“Thank you to President Trump for supporting the agreement, which grows our longstanding partnership with the airline,” Ortberg said. “As one of America’s top exporters, Boeing is proud that our aircraft sales to global customers strengthen U.S. manufacturing and sustain jobs in our factories and at suppliers across the United States.”

Lockheed Martin President and CEO Jim Taiclet promised that “thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we will help accelerate Qatar’s next-generation air and missile defense capabilities, enabling a more secure and stable region, sustaining American manufacturing jobs, and reinforcing our defense industrial base.”

A spokesman for Northrop Grumman, celebrating Trump’s deals with the United Arab Emirates, promised: “Just as we have invested in the UAE, such as Northrop Grumman’s grant to the American Community School in Abu Dhabi, we welcome increased partnership and investment by the UAE in our world-class defense sector. This historic trip will increase U.S. jobs and economic strength.”

Parsons President Carey Smith said that his corporation is “proud to be a part of President Trump’s initiatives to strengthen strategic relations in the UAE,” and Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli congratulated the president, calling the trip to the United Arab Emirates, “A key moment that underscores the enduring partnership between two nations committed to innovation, progress, and shared prosperity.”

“As we look to the future, energy will remain central to economic growth and broader cooperation that supports stability and opportunity for both countries, and Baker Hughes remains steadfast in our dedication to help both nations meet their goals,” Simonelli promised.