Ramaswamy faces GOP criticism over $690K jet spending

### Vivek Ramaswamy Faces Criticism Over Nearly $690,000 in Campaign Aircraft Spending

Republican Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy is facing criticism over nearly $690,000 his campaign has spent leasing private aircraft, including flights covering relatively short distances within Ohio.

Campaign-finance records reviewed by the Ohio Capital Journal show that Ramaswamy's campaign spent nearly $560,000 leasing an aircraft from V Leasing LLC through June 2026. The company lists as its address a residence owned by Ramaswamy. The campaign also paid nearly $130,000 to Utah-based TVPX Aircraft Solutions, bringing the documented aircraft-leasing expenditures to nearly $690,000.

The spending has attracted attention because Ramaswamy has also provided more than $25 million in loans to his gubernatorial campaign. Campaign-finance records indicate that the loans are structured so that the campaign could potentially repay him with money it raises later.

Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, raised questions about the potential flow of campaign funds if Ramaswamy is eventually repaid. He told the Ohio Capital Journal that if campaign funds were used to repay his loans, money could ultimately flow back to him in connection with the aircraft arrangement.

The reporting does not establish a campaign-finance violation involving the aircraft expenditures. It also remains unclear whether Ramaswamy will ultimately seek repayment of the loans.

### Private Flights Within Ohio

Federal flight records show that Ramaswamy used the aircraft for multiple campaign-related trips in Ohio during April and May.

On April 7, he flew from Ohio State University Airport in Columbus to Port Clinton before attending a campaign event in Lakeside. The following day, he flew from Columbus to Cleveland for another campaign event.

On April 15, Ramaswamy traveled by aircraft from Columbus to Youngstown for a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police at the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office. After winning the Republican primary, he again flew from Columbus to the Cleveland area for a campaign event in Brecksville on May 21.

The Ohio Capital Journal reported that the in-state flights lasted about 30 minutes. Flight records also show trips outside Ohio, including flights between Columbus and Washington, D.C., and Columbus and Salt Lake City.

David Cohen, director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, questioned whether private aviation was necessary for some of the Ohio campaign trips, noting that several of the destinations can be reached by car within a few hours.

Ramaswamy previously said during a May interview with a Youngstown television station that he enjoys long drives, while discussing his travel around Ohio.

### Criticism From Within Republican Circles

The aircraft spending has also generated criticism from some Republicans. Former Brown County Republican Party chairman Nick Owens told NBC News that Ramaswamy should stop using the private aircraft and spend more time visiting communities in person.

Owens argued that voters want to see candidates in their neighborhoods and homes rather than traveling between campaign events by private aircraft.

The issue has also drawn criticism from Ramaswamy's Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, whose campaign has highlighted the contrast between her campaign travel and Ramaswamy's use of private aviation. The Acton campaign previously pointed to her use of commercial transportation and driving around the state.

The aircraft spending is not the first time Ramaswamy's use of personal wealth has become part of the Ohio gubernatorial campaign. His campaign has relied heavily on his own financial resources, including the more than $25 million in loans, while also reporting substantial campaign expenditures.

### Campaign Spending and the Affordability Debate

The aircraft controversy comes as Ramaswamy has emphasized affordability and household costs during his campaign.

On September 23, Ramaswamy joined Ohio Senate President Rob McColley and House Speaker Matt Huffman in calling for a temporary suspension of Ohio's 38.5-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax.

The proposal has prompted a separate debate over the state's transportation finances. Ohio's Office of Budget and Management said that a roughly $1.6 billion balance in the relevant Ohio Department of Transportation fund was already committed to operations, maintenance and capital projects. House Republican leaders estimated that suspending the gas tax could reduce state revenue by approximately $640 million to $700 million.

The transportation-fund debate and the campaign's aircraft expenditures are separate financial matters. The private-jet spending has nevertheless become part of the broader discussion surrounding Ramaswamy's campaign finances, particularly his use of personal wealth and the structure of his campaign loans.

As the November election approaches, the aircraft expenditures remain a documented feature of the campaign's spending records, while questions about the ultimate repayment of Ramaswamy's loans and the financial relationship between his campaign and V Leasing remain separate matters that have not been fully resolved.