February 20, 2026
COLUMBUS — The Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio campaign today filed its 2025 annual campaign finance report, posting a record-breaking $19.8 million raised in less than one year. This unmatched total represents the strongest fundraising performance ever by a gubernatorial candidate in Ohio history. Fueled by overwhelming grassroots and donor enthusiasm, the $19.8 million figure does not include personal investment from Vivek.
“The most impressive part about this record-breaking haul is that the average donation size is just $76, showing that Vivek’s campaign is driven by grassroots energy,” said Jonathan Ewing, campaign manager for Vivek for Ohio. “We’ve never seen anything like this in the history of gubernatorial campaigns in Ohio.”
Since launching his campaign in late February 2025, Vivek’s campaign has maintained a relentless pace, becoming the only candidate for governor to visit all 88 Ohio counties last year and fueling his unprecedented support across the state.
“Our opponents will try to downplay this record-breaking fundraising haul, but the numbers speak for themselves,” Ewing added. “Ohioans know the Acton-Pepper socialist-style agenda would send our state backward, while Vivek is laser-focused on improving the lives of Ohioans: lower costs, bigger paychecks, and better schools. And we’re just getting started: today’s fundraising numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Since receiving President Donald Trump’s endorsement on the first day of the campaign and the Ohio Republican Party’s endorsement in May, Vivek has earned support from conservative lawmakers, community leaders, labor unions, law enforcement, and business leaders statewide. This early and overwhelming support is setting a new standard in Ohio politics and demonstrating the powerful mandate forming behind Vivek’s vision for Ohio’s future.
Key Stats
- Grassroots-Driven Fundraising: Vivek received 254,883 donations from more than 88,950 unique donors, with an average contribution of just $76—highlighting the campaign’s broad-based grassroots strength. Donors giving $200 or less account for 97% of individual contributions.
- Unmatched Campaign Energy: Vivek’s campaign hosted more than 110 in-state political events with a fundraising component, demonstrating unmatched campaign enthusiasm and earning support from donors in all areas of the state.
- Historic Early Fundraising: Vivek’s $19.8 million raised in the year before the general election sets a new Ohio gubernatorial fundraising record, more than doubling the previous benchmark set by Mike DeWine in 2017 ($8.4M).
- Poised to Shatter Current Total Campaign Fundraising Record: Vivek is on pace to surpass DeWine’s total funds raised record set during the 2018 gubernatorial campaign ($24M).