By Eva Levin
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race on Feb 21. The former biopharmaceutical CEO announced his candidacy with a video his campaign posted to Youtube, where he claimed America is in a “national identity crisis” due to liberal ideology. Prior to his entry into politics, Ramaswamy was recognized as a successful entrepreneur and hedge fund manager, co-founding several biotech companies. The Ohio native grew to prominence in conservative circles for his book, Woke, Inc., which sharply criticizes the idea of “wokeness” and its involvement in American politics.
Ramaswamy’s campaign centers on promoting economic growth and job creation through pro-business policies. In his announcement video, he claimed he was dedicated to fighting “new secular religions, like COVID-ism, climate-ism and gender ideology.” Another key element of his platform is affirmative action, with Ramaswamy pledging to do away with the practice. Now that the Supreme Court overturned the precedent, it is unclear how this could affect his campaign.
In terms of polling, Ramaswamy’s candidacy has experienced fluctuations. Initially considered an underdog, he managed to gain some traction due to his unique background and policy stances. However, as the race progressed, he faced challenges from more established political figures. Latest polls show Ramaswamy at 28%, a sharp jump from reports earlier this summer.