Vivek Ramaswamy Proposes Ohio as Ninth State to Eliminate State Income Taxes
In an explosive political move, Vivek Ramaswamy officially announced his gubernatorial run for Ohio on February 24, 20XX. His campaign escalated dramatically the next day with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, setting the stage for a potential power shift in 2026, should Ramaswamy win over incumbent Governor Mike DeWine (R-Ohio). Ohio's current tax and regulatory environment has seen significant improvements in recent years, but Ramaswamy believes there's still room for growth.
Tackling the income tax issue head-on, Ramaswamy aims to position Ohio as a leading contender in the race to join the ranks of no-income-tax states. In an interview with NBC's Youngstown affiliate, he expressed his belief that eliminating income tax would promote economic growth and attract more residents to the state.
Ramaswamy pointed out that eight states operate without an income tax, while many Ohioans are leaving for such states. By becoming the nation's ninth no-income-tax state, he contends Ohio can retain existing residents and attract new ones. He envisions a state where children grow up and pursue their dreams without the burden of income tax.
However, Ramaswamy isn't stopping at state level tax reform. He also advocates for the phaseout of local income taxes in Ohio. Currently, 418 municipalities in the state impose their own income taxes, which isn't permitted in 34 other states. This complex tax structure creates a disadvantage for Ohio in attracting job-creating investments and new residents, and many hope Ramaswamy or his successor will address this issue.
Greg Lawson, research fellow at the Buckeye Institute, an Ohio-based think tank, emphasized the need for aggressive tax reform at both state and local levels. He believes eliminating the state income tax can be achieved with strategic foresight and budget discipline, and such a move will help maintain Ohio's competitiveness.
Should Ramaswamy prevail in the primaries and general election, the pressure will be on for other governors to follow suit, as a growing number of GOP governors have made state income tax elimination a goal. If successful, Ohio could join the ranks of eight other states enjoying a no-income-tax status.
In his Ohio gubernatorial campaign for the 2026 election, Vivek Ramaswamy proposed streamlining state fiscal policy by advocating for the elimination of state income tax and local income taxes. Ramaswamy, in agreement with Greg Lawson from the Buckeye Institute, believes that such a move will likely promote economic growth, attract more residents, and retain existing ones, making Ohio a likely contender to join the eight states that currently operate without an income tax. If Ramaswamy wins, his success in eliminating state income tax could encourage other governors to implement similar subsidization policies.
