The Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee voted on Friday to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, in a blow to Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH). DeWine reportedly worked behind the scenes to block the 66-member committee from backing Ramaswamy,

The Ohio Republican Party officially endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy as its candidate for governor, a major victory for the one-time presidential hopeful.

The endorsement, approved by a supermajority of the Ohio GOP’s State Central Committee, came despite lobbying by Ramaswamy’s main primary opponent, Attorney General Dave Yost, and a last-minute hint by Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel that he might consider joining the race.