Endorsement Underscores Broad Support from Ohio’s Leading Trade Unions
COLUMBUS, OH – The International Union of Operating Engineers in Ohio (“IUOE Local 18”) today endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor, bolstering momentum among Ohio’s major labor organizations in support of his campaign.
For more than eight decades, IUOE Local 18 has been at the heart of Ohio’s growth, representing more than 16,000 dedicated workers who build and maintain our state’s infrastructure, buildings, and industrial complexes. IUOE Local 18 works to protect jobs, strengthen skills, and support its members with quality benefits, ensuring Ohio’s operating engineers remain the best trained and most trusted in the industry.
“All working men and women across this state deserve a governor who will fight for them, and we’re confident Vivek Ramaswamy is that leader,” said Michael R. Bertolone, Business Manager of IUOE Local 18. “Since 1939, our members have built and maintained the infrastructure needed to support Ohio’s economy, and we’ve trained the next generation of skilled workers who keep our state moving forward. It’s clear Vivek is deeply committed to supporting this critical workforce, and we will do everything we can to help him win in 2026.”
Vivek Ramaswamy welcomed the endorsement, saying: “I’m deeply honored to earn the support of IUOE Local 18 and their more than 16,000 members. These hardworking men and women are the backbone of our economy, and by working together, I know we can revive the American Dream in Ohio.”
As national, state, and local Republican leaders rally behind his candidacy, Vivek’s campaign continues to gain support from Ohio’s workers, including farmers, truckers, and nine leading labor organizations. Other labor endorsements previously announced include:
- ACT Ohio
- Ohio Conference of Teamsters
- Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)
- Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters (CMRCC)
- Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council (CBCTC)
- Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council (NWOBCTC)
- Millwrights Pile Drivers Local Union No. 1090
- Carpenters Local Union No. 2