Ex-DOGE Adviser Fishback Attacks Ramaswamy on H-1B Visa 'Scam' Amid Ohio & Florida Gubernatorial Races

Nov 26, 2025

United States Politics

Former DOGE adviser James Fishback challenged Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio industrial vision, reiterating his call to end H-1B visas. Fishback, a Florida gubernatoria

Ex-DOGE Adviser Fishback Attacks Ramaswamy on H-1B Visa 'Scam' Amid Ohio & Florida Gubernatorial Races

A heated exchange has unfolded in the political arena, pitting former DOGE adviser James Fishback against Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-origin candidate now vying for Ohio's governorship. The core of their dispute centers on Ohio's industrial future and, more broadly, the contentious H-1B visa program, which Fishback vehemently labels a "scam."

Ramaswamy's Ohio Vision Sparks Debate

The spark for this latest verbal volley came from an X post by Ramaswamy. In a bid to rally voters for his Ohio campaign, Ramaswamy articulated his vision:

“Ohio led the first Industrial Revolution & there’s no reason we can’t lead the next one, but energy dominance is essential. Permitting timelines, red tape, and bureaucracy are slowing new power generation & everyday Ohioans are paying higher electric bills as a consequence. We’re going to fix it in Ohio by speeding up permitting through executive action on Day 1.”

Fishback Counters with H-1B Abolition Call

Fishback swiftly countered, leveraging Ramaswamy's statement to reinforce his own long-standing demand to abolish H-1B visas. His retort was pointed:

“Ohio led the first Industrial Revolution… Correct, and it was done without H-1Bs from India. As Florida Governor, I’ll end the H-1B scam so our workers can get back the great-paying jobs that were stolen from them.”

Fishback's "America First" Stance on H-1B Visas

Fishback, a 30-year-old investor preparing for his 2026 Florida gubernatorial bid, has carved out a niche as a conservative outsider championing "America First" principles. His campaign is largely defined by his aggressive stance on immigration and job protection for U.S. citizens. Among his key promises are the abolition of property taxes, a halt to what he deems unfair hiring of H-1B visa workers by state agencies, and a freeze on new AI data center projects. He positions himself as a successor to Ron DeSantis, another prominent GOP figure.

His commitment to ending the H-1B program is a recurring theme. Just last week, Fishback declared his intention to "fire every H-1B worker on day one" if elected Florida Governor. "I’ll fire every single H-1B working at our state agencies before the sun sets on my first day as Florida Governor. Then we’ll hire incredible Floridians for those posts,” he asserted.

Amplifying his message on X, Fishback recently lamented, "We have countless smart people right here in Florida, and yet companies are refusing to hire them because they like to hire H-1B foreign slave workers instead because they are cheaper." He underscored his motivation, stating, "I want our kids to have jobs, so they can have money to buy a home, get married, and raise a God-fearing family."

Ramaswamy's Ohio Gubernatorial Focus

In contrast to Fishback's singular focus on H-1B, Ramaswamy's own 2026 campaign for Ohio Governor emphasizes education and economic competitiveness within his state. While he promotes industrial growth, his initial post did not directly address the H-1B issue, which Fishback seized upon as an opportunity to push his agenda.

The Unlikely DOGE Connection

Interestingly, both Ramaswamy and Fishback previously served under DOGE, an initiative founded by Elon Musk. The program's abrupt and early termination caused considerable political stir and raised questions, highlighting a shared, albeit brief, professional history between the two political figures.

By news 9 hours ago