Ohio GOP leaders urge Ramaswamy to stop using private jet

What happened

Ohio Republican leaders have advised Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using a private jet while campaigning for governor. The request concerns how he travels during the campaign. It is political guidance from members of his party, not an official election action, a change to voting rules or a statement of government policy.

NBC News national political reporter Henry Gomez discussed the campaign on Meet the Press NOW. He described rural counties in Ohio’s Appalachian region as emerging battlegrounds in the gubernatorial contest between Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton. His reporting focused on how those counties are becoming important areas of campaign activity for both candidates.

What the advice means

Ramaswamy is the Republican identified in the gubernatorial contest, while Acton is the Democrat. The private-jet advice concerns campaign travel, not foreign policy. It also does not set a campaign schedule, require a particular form of transportation or determine how either candidate will campaign in Appalachian communities.

The next steps belong to the campaigns and the Republican leaders involved. Ramaswamy can decide whether to change his travel practices, and both Ramaswamy and Acton can decide where and how to hold campaign events. Public schedules, future appearances in rural counties and direct statements from the candidates or Republican leaders would show how the advice affects the campaign.