Proposal Details
Ramaswamy suggested consolidation while discussing plans to eliminate Ohio’s state income tax, framing it as a way to cut excess spending and boost efficiency. “I love the universities in Ohio. I want us to have the best universities. But we have too many of them. They need to be consolidated,” he said in the video, likely recorded in Wapakoneta.
Ohio operates 14 public universities with 24 regional campuses, plus 22 community colleges, serving over 313,000 undergraduates in recent semesters despite enrollment declines at some institutions. His campaign clarified that Ramaswamy opposes eliminating universities outright, focusing instead on trimming administrative bloat to lower tuition costs.
Democratic Backlash
Democratic candidate Amy Acton, a former Ohio health director and alumna of Youngstown State and Ohio State universities, accused Ramaswamy of threatening Ohio’s “world-class” colleges that drive jobs and community vitality. “Ohio has the best colleges in the country, and Vivek Ramaswamy plans to get rid of them,” Acton posted on X.
Acton’s spokeswoman Addie Bullock warned the plan would devastate local economies reliant on campuses for employment and services, echoing concerns from university leaders who view institutions as distinct economic anchors. Progressive group Innovation Ohio called the idea “offensive” and out of touch amid calls to invest more in higher education.
Broader Context
The controversy follows Ramaswamy’s walked-back proposal for a 365-day K-12 school year, highlighting scrutiny of his education ideas in a race against Acton, where recent polls show tightening competition. Past efforts, like a 2015 Kasich task force, recommended reviewing duplicated programs but stopped short of mergers.
Ramaswamy, endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Ohio GOP, leads in fundraising with a $10 million ad buy but faces headwinds as Democrats highlight affordability and local impacts.