DGA - Democratic Governors Association

02/05/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 02/05/2026 16:05

Ramaswamy’s Signature Policy Plan Could Jack Up Costs With a 20% Sales Tax

Ramaswamy's Signature Policy Plan Could Jack Up Costs With a 20% Sales Tax

Even Republican Gov. DeWine bashed the policy as "absolutely devastating"

In new reporting from Cleveland.com, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine warned that Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's signature policy plan could lead to a sales tax of 20% on everything, saying it would be "absolutely devastating" for Ohioans.

At a time when prices are surging on everything from groceries and utility bills to housing and health care costs, Ramaswamy launched his campaign for governor with a proposal that would result in a 20% tax hike.

In the last few months, Ramaswamy has continuously demonstrated just how little he knows, or cares, about the challenges Ohioans are facing. He recently told Fox Business that the higher costs hardworking families are struggling to afford are only "perceived," despite Ohio families paying $1,532 more in expenses last year than in 2024. He dismissed Ohioans that are feeling the squeeze of rising costs while saying that the solution to the inflation crisis - which he helped cause - is simply to make more money. And last year alone, he spent nearly a million dollars flying around the state in his personal jet and charter private planes.

"It's no surprise that Vivek Ramaswamy has staked his campaign for governor on a policy that would further skyrocket costs for hardworking Ohio families," said DGA spokesperson Izzi Levy. "As the inflation crisis that Ramaswamy helped cause continues to hurt Ohioans, he has repeatedly made it clear that he doesn't care about lowering costs. Ramaswamy's plan to inflict even higher costs and more pain on working Ohioans is so toxic that even Republicans want nothing to do with it."

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