Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has emerged as one of the most formidable political fundraisers in the state’s history, announcing that his campaign raised nearly $20 million in 2025 — a sum his team describes as unprecedented for a gubernatorial race in Ohio. At the same time, the Indian American entrepreneur-turned-politician revealed a personal decision to step away from major social media platforms, saying the move will help him better connect with voters and become a more effective leader.
In a statement released on January 5, 2026, the Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio campaign confirmed that it raised $9.88 million during the second half of 2025 alone, surpassing the $9.7 million collected during the first two quarters of the year. The combined total of approximately $19.57 million, the campaign said, does not include any personal funds from Ramaswamy himself.
Calling the performance “the strongest fundraising effort by a gubernatorial candidate in Ohio history,” Ramaswamy said the numbers reflect broad grassroots enthusiasm rather than reliance on self-financing.
“You simply don’t see this level of support in a gubernatorial race in Ohio,” said Jonathan Ewing, Ramaswamy’s campaign manager. “Raising $9.88 million in a single reporting period and nearly $20 million in the year before the election sends an unmistakable message: Vivek’s campaign has historic momentum that no other campaign can match.”
A Campaign Built on Grassroots Support
According to the campaign, fundraising throughout 2025 was driven entirely by supporters, with contributions coming from tens of thousands of donors. The first half of the year saw $9.7 million raised from approximately 40,000 unique contributors, while the second-half surge further underscored what the campaign calls “extraordinary political momentum building across Ohio.”
Since launching his campaign in late February 2025, Ramaswamy has hosted 112 campaign events that included a fundraising component, reflecting an aggressive ground strategy that combines donor outreach with direct voter engagement.
The campaign’s internal figures suggest Ramaswamy has already eclipsed several historical benchmarks. His total haul in 2025 more than doubled the previous early fundraising record set by Governor Mike DeWine in 2017, when DeWine raised $8.4 million. In just his first two finance filings, Ramaswamy has reportedly raised more than the entire campaign totals of former Ohio governors and major candidates, including John Kasich and Richard Cordray.
Campaign officials also say Ramaswamy is on track to surpass DeWine’s total fundraising record of $24 million from the 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Early Endorsements and Political Positioning
Ramaswamy’s campaign gained immediate national attention when he received an endorsement from President Donald Trump on the first day of his gubernatorial run in February 2025. Since then, the campaign claims to have secured endorsements from conservative lawmakers, community leaders, law enforcement officials, business groups, and several labor organizations in Ohio that have historically backed Democratic candidates.
The campaign described this breadth of early support as unusual in Ohio politics, particularly at such an early stage in the race.
Details of the campaign’s semi-annual finance report, covering fundraising activity from July 1 through December 31, 2025, are scheduled to be filed with the Ohio Secretary of State by January 31, 2026.
A Deliberate Exit From Social Media
On the same day the fundraising announcement was made, Ramaswamy also unveiled a personal New Year’s resolution that quickly drew national attention: stepping away from personal use of social media platforms such as X and Instagram.
Ramaswamy said he deleted both apps from his phone on December 31, 2025, explaining that constant exposure to social media can distort a leader’s understanding of public priorities.
“If one relies on social media, it’s too easy to get a distorted sense of the public’s concerns,” he said.
He cited a conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who reportedly told him she prefers direct engagement with citizens over consuming daily media coverage.
“My New Year’s resolution is to do something similar,” Ramaswamy said. “I plan to become a social-media teetotaler in 2026.”
According to Ramaswamy, the decision is aimed at redirecting his time and attention toward face-to-face voter engagement, policy development, and family life.
“I’ll spend my newfound time listening to more voters in real-world Ohio, developing more policies to make our state affordable, and being more present with my family,” he said. “I predict that ending my consumption of social media will make me a better leader and a happier man.”
Campaign Presence Will Continue Online
Despite his personal withdrawal from browsing social media, Ramaswamy clarified that his campaign will continue to maintain an active digital presence. Campaign staff will manage social media accounts to distribute messages, videos, and updates on his behalf.
“But I won’t browse any of it myself,” he said. “There’s a fine line between using the internet to distribute your message and inadvertently allowing constant internet feedback to alter your message.”
“That isn’t using social media,” he added. “It’s letting social media use you.”
Looking Ahead
As the Ohio gubernatorial race moves closer to the 2026 election cycle, Ramaswamy’s combination of record-breaking fundraising and unconventional personal choices has positioned him as a high-profile and closely watched candidate. His campaign argues that the financial momentum, coupled with an emphasis on grassroots engagement, reflects a political movement rather than a traditional candidacy.
Whether Ramaswamy’s decision to step away from social media enhances his leadership and voter connection remains to be seen. For now, his campaign appears focused on translating fundraising success and early enthusiasm into sustained statewide support — one town hall, policy proposal, and voter conversation at a time.
