Vivek Ramaswamy Campaign Finance Disclosures Challenged

India-West News Desk

CINCINNATI, OH – Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing a campaign finance complaint after it was alleged his campaign failed to adequately disclose more than $500,000 in credit card expenditures, an accusation his campaign denies.

The complaint, filed July 7 by Democratic State Senator Kent Smith with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, alleges that Ramaswamy’s campaign violated Ohio campaign finance law by listing more than $509,000 in payments to American Express without identifying the underlying expenses. The filings cover transactions made between April 2025 and June 2026.

Ohio law requires campaign committees to provide detailed information on expenditures, including the amount spent, the recipient and the purpose of each expense. Smith argues that reporting only aggregate credit card payments does not satisfy the state’s disclosure requirements.

Phil Richter, who served as executive director of the Ohio Elections Commission from 1995 through the end of 2025, told WCMH-TV that campaigns are ultimately required to itemize expenditures of $25 or more and explain what the money was spent on. While campaigns may initially report credit card payments, they must later provide supporting details, he said.

Ramaswamy’s campaign rejected the allegations, saying it has complied with all applicable campaign finance laws.

“Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio is in full compliance with all applicable Ohio campaign finance laws,” campaign spokesperson Evan Machan said in a statement. He added that the campaign has never missed a required filing and is continuing to cooperate with the Secretary of State’s office.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office described the issue as a common reporting error.