Vivek Ramaswamy Pushes to Eliminate Ohio State Income Tax
Butler, Friday, 31 July 2026.
Fresh off his primary victory, Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy plans to eliminate Ohio’s income tax to compete with states like Texas and prevent resident outflow.
Primary Victory Sets Stage for Economic Platform
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy secured the Ohio gubernatorial nomination following the primary election on July 27, 2026, capturing 82.5% of the vote against competitor Casey Putsch [2]. The decisive win, with a margin of 65 percentage points, positions Ramaswamy to face Democratic nominee Amy Acton in the upcoming general election [2]. As of July 28, 2026, vote counting was nearly complete with 98.4% of expected votes tallied, solidifying the mandate for his campaign’s policy agenda [2].
Zero Income Tax Proposal
Central to Ramaswamy’s campaign is a proposal to eliminate Ohio’s state income tax entirely, a policy shift aimed at halting resident outflow to neighboring regions [1]. During campaign stops in late July 2026, including an appearance at the Butler County Fair, Ramaswamy argued that Ohio is losing population to zero-income-tax states such as Texas, Florida, and Tennessee [1]. He contends that matching these jurisdictions is essential for retaining workforce capacity and stimulating local economic activity [1].
Broader Economic and Regulatory Reforms
Beyond tax elimination, the campaign outlines a strategy focused on reducing bureaucratic friction and expanding workforce training programs [1]. Ramaswamy has proposed creating a department of customer service reporting directly to the governor to accelerate licensing and infrastructure permits [1]. Additionally, the platform emphasizes energy production increases to lower utility costs and stricter enforcement against Medicaid fraud to reduce state expenditures [1].
Opposition and Public Safety Focus
The Republican candidate has contrasted his economic priorities with the record of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, specifically criticizing pandemic-era school closures in Cincinnati [1]. Acton, who served as Ohio’s state health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, won the Democratic primary in an uncontested race [2]. On public safety, Ramaswamy has pledged to enforce rule of law standards to ensure urban areas remain accessible for commerce and leisure without fear of crime [1].