Indian Origin politician and Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has raised $9.88 million in the second half of 2025 for his campaign to become Ohio’s next governor, his team announced. This marks a record-breaking fundraising haul for any Ohio gubernatorial race, according to IANS. The update comes hours after Ramaswamy, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on January 5, revealed quitting social media in 2026. Titled “Social Media Is a Trap for Politicians,” he said his New Year’s resolution was to become a “social-media teetotaler.”

Vivek Ramaswamy raises $9.88 million for Ohio governor bid

According to Ramaswamy’s campaign, the July–December total surpassed the $9.7 million raised in the first half of the year and represents the strongest single reporting period for a gubernatorial candidate in Ohio. These figures do not include any personal contributions from Ramaswamy.

Jonathan Ewing, campaign manager for Ramaswamy, called it “historic momentum that no other campaign can match.” In total, Ramaswamy raised more than $19.57 million in 2025, more than double the previous state record of $8.4 million set by Mike DeWine in 2017.

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The 2026 election will select a successor to term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. If elected, Ramaswamy would become the third Indian American governor in the US, following Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley.

Since launching his campaign in February 2025, Ramaswamy has held 112 events with a fundraising component. His campaign said both halves of the year’s fundraising came from individual donors. According to his team, the first half brought in contributions from 40,000 unique supporters.

Ramaswamy’s early fundraising had already exceeded the total campaign receipts of past Ohio candidates, including Republican John Kasich (2010 and 2014), Mike DeWine (2022), and Democrat Richard Cordray (2018). Since receiving President Donald Trump’s endorsement on the first day of his campaign, Ramaswamy has gained support from conservative lawmakers, community leaders, law enforcement officials, business leaders, and labor groups that have historically backed Democrats.

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Social Media exit: Ramaswamy swears off Instagram and X

Ramaswamy, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on January 5, said he deleted Instagram and X from his phone on New Year’s Eve, although his official accounts continue posting updates. Ramaswamy clarified that his campaign team will manage social media posts while he avoids engaging with platforms himself. “There’s a fine line between using the internet to distribute your message and letting social media use you,” he wrote.

Ramaswamy said the break will give him more time to meet voters, develop policies to make Ohio more affordable, and spend time with his family. 

Ramaswamy’s decision was inspired by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whom Ramaswamy met in July 2024. Meloni avoids news and media influence to focus on political strategy. Ramaswamy described her approach as “a beautiful idea” and hopes to apply a similar strategy to his Ohio campaign. He admitted he might check X again by March, but emphasised that for now, he is committed to avoiding the platforms.

In his Op-ed, the former presidential hopeful also criticised social media as a “warped projection of reality” and warned politicians against being trapped in constant online feedback.