Ohioans Could Pay 20% More for Everything Under Billionaire Private Jet Owner Vivek Ramaswamy

Ohioans Could Pay 20% More for Everything Under Billionaire Private Jet Owner Vivek Ramaswamy

February 5, 2026

Columbus, Ohio- On day one of his campaign, billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy vowed to eliminate income and property taxes. But while Ramaswamy's scheme would mean a few extra dollars to fuel up his private jet, working families in Ohio could face a 20% sales tax on everything.

Vivek Ramaswamy said workers who are struggling to make ends meet should just earn more and that rising costs are only in Ohioans' imaginations. But what's not imaginary is Ramaswamy's plan to make Ohioans pay a 20% sales tax on everything.

"Ohioans are already struggling to make ends meet after years of Republicans failing our state, and now Vivek Ramaswamy wants to make their lives even more difficult by slapping a 20% sales tax on everything," said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. "Under Ramaswamy's scheme, working families would be forced to figure out how to stretch their budgets even further while he cruises above them in his private jet, calls Ohioans lazy, and claims we're imagining our costs are going up."

Read more:

Cleveland.com: DeWine warns sales tax could hit 20% if property taxes abolished

• If a proposed constitutional amendment abolishing property taxes were to pass, Ohioans may see sales taxes skyrocket into the double digits, Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday morning.

• "Sales tax could go up to 17, 18, 19, 20%, sales tax in the state of Ohio on products that you buy," DeWine said. "So, it would be absolutely devastating."

• DeWine also warned that policymakers could be forced to consider increasing income taxes to find new revenue as well.

Columbus Dispatch: Vivek Ramaswamy running for Ohio governor. Wants to end income, property taxes

• Ramaswamy in his speeches outlined some of his platforms. He pledged to eliminate both the income tax and property taxes, which make up more than half of the state's tax revenue.

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