Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Vivek Ramaswamy Faces GOP Criticism Over $690,000 Private Flights
Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor of Ohio.
His campaign paid almost $690,000 to lease private airplanes.
Some flights were short trips between cities in Ohio.
Records show flights from Columbus to places including Port Clinton, Cleveland, and Youngstown.
These flights were used for campaign events and meetings.
Nick Owens, a former local Republican leader, criticized the spending.
Owens said Ramaswamy should travel by road and spend more time with voters.
Ramaswamy has also loaned more than $25 million to his campaign.
The article says watchdogs are examining how those loans might later be repaid.
Ramaswamy’s campaign spent nearly $690,000 leasing private aircraft through the end of June.
Nearly $560,000 went to V Leasing LLC, whose address is a house owned by Ramaswamy.
The campaign also paid almost $130,000 to Utah-based TVPX Aircraft Solutions.
Flight records show private-aircraft trips between Ohio cities for campaign events and meetings.
Former Republican official Nick Owens urged Ramaswamy to meet voters on the ground instead.
- Who
- Republican Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and his campaign; criticism came from former Republican official Nick Owens.
- What
- Ramaswamy’s campaign spent nearly $690,000 leasing private aircraft, including for short trips within Ohio.
- When
- The documented spending runs through the end of June; cited flights occurred on April 7, April 8, April 15, and May 21.
- Where
- The flights connected Columbus with Port Clinton, Cleveland, Youngstown, and the Cleveland-area community of Brecksville.
- Why
- The campaign used the aircraft for campaign appearances and meetings, prompting criticism that some trips could have been made by road.
- Aircraft spending
- Nearly $690,000 documented through the end of June.
- V Leasing payments
- Nearly $560,000; the company lists a house owned by Ramaswamy as its address.
- TVPX payments
- Almost $130,000 paid to the Utah-based aircraft-leasing company.
- Campaign loans
- Ramaswamy has loaned more than $25 million to his gubernatorial campaign.
- Cited flight route
- Ohio State University Airport in Columbus to Port Clinton on April 7.
- Critic
- Nick Owens, a former Brown County Republican Party chairman and former State Board of Education member.