Every Ohio pro sports owner has donated to Vivek Ramaswamy

Hi there! Welcome to your Thursday FOIAball.

Let’s dive right in.

This week, Vivek Ramaswamy pulled off one of the most impressive feats ever: running the most repugnant political advertisement in modern American history. 

A lot of people have tried. Lyndon Johnson killed a kid in a commercial, and this was worse. So we have to doff our cap in that regard. Congrats, you’re a monster. 

The video features the estranged mother of Ramaswamy’s opponent in the Ohio governor’s race speaking out against her daughter. 

The story of what really happened is horrific. If you don’t already know, here’s a link. 

Vivek responded to the intense criticism with an unrepentant smugness, which tracks, because that’s the mindset of our current era. 

You can’t shame people who are shameless. But at a time when even mainstream Republicans have condemned the ad, it’s important to point out who hasn’t. The people who couldn’t care less if this country’s politicians are utterly bereft of any moral compass, so long as it doesn’t hurt their bottom line. 

Like literally every single one of Ohio’s very wealthy pro team owners, who have all donated big sums to Ramaswamy, and who all seem to prefer stadium subsidies to scruples. 

Let’s start with the Cleveland Guardians. While it sucks to lose in the playoffs, at least fans don’t have to watch the World Series rooting for a Vivek donor to hoist the trophy. 

Paul Dolan is chairman and CEO of the Guardians. Sort of. The team is technically in a family trust, which means he’s not quite the literal owner. Whatever.

The trust is tied to his father, but the money in it (probably) comes via Paul’s uncle, Charles Dolan. Yes, the father of current Knicks owner James Dolan. Who himself is funnelling money to the Republican candidate for governor in New York. 

Paul, in his defense, is only an itty-bitty Vivek donor, chipping in $2,500 to his primary campaign. Honestly, that’s even more embarrassing. Tossing over a couple bucks to say you did if he wins. Support him or don’t, you coward. 

But Dolan is an outlier. Every other sports owner in Ohio forked over a lot more. 

Across the state, Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini and his wife gave $50,000 over four donations. 

Castellini technically ceded control of the franchise to his son in February. But in an interview, Phil said that his father was still very involved in decision-making. 

Which, maybe, don’t let him be? One of his donations came on Sept. 29, three weeks after Vivek filmed himself flailing around a batting cage. Imagine owning a baseball team, watching that video, and cutting a $15,000 check. 

No wonder the Reds finished last in the Central this year. 

But baseball is boring. Sorry for spending so much time on it. Let’s talk football. 

The owners of both of Ohio’s NFL franchises are deep into Vivek. The Bengals’ Mike Brown is notoriously cheap, but his penuriousness doesn’t translate to politics. Brown gave $30,000 across two donations in July 2025 and August 2026.

Brown’s son-in-law, Bengals vice president Troy Blackburn, gave the exact same amounts on the exact same dates. Is that how rich bros bond these days? Knock back a few and cut some checks? Maybe male friendship isn’t dead after all. Prosecution of straw donor schemes? That’s another story.

The Bengals even have a Vivek guy in their quarterback room. Sort of. Former Penn State QB Sean Clifford donated $2,500 in November 2025. Clifford was on Cincinnati’s roster at the time, bumped up from the practice squad after Joe Burrow went down. 

Put another way, Jake Browning’s backup is the biggest sports star Ramaswamy is getting money from. And Clifford’s long since been sent back down to the B squad. 

Then there is the Haslam family

Jimmy and Susan, who own the Browns, as well as their daughter and son-in-law, plus a top Browns executive, gave a combined $126,075 across the primary and general. 

But in Ohio, college football rules over the NFL. And one of Vivek’s biggest backers is a celebrity in that space. No, not Ryan Day or Eddie George. This person doesn’t even live in the Buckeye State. It’s Texas Tech mega-booster and GOP mega-donor Cody Campbell, who gave $33,231 alongside his wife. 

I’m sure it’s because he cares deeply about Ohio’s future. Here’s a thought experiment: would Cody Campbell rather drink two beers with Vivek or die? I bet he’d rather die.

Campbell recently made the bold choice to publicly praise Bo French’s message discipline. On this matter? His people declined to comment. Okay. Seems pretty easy to say this was bad, but you do you. At least they got back to me, though. None of the owners mentioned in this article did.

As for schools that are actually in the state, Ohio State’s basketball arena bears the Schottenstein name. The big-time Buckeye-boosting clan has put in $95,915 to Vivek’s campaign across various family members. Who are they? I neither know nor care.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert donated $16,615 during the primary. Is that why LeBron opted for Philly instead of coming home? Yes. 

I bet you forgot about the NHL! How dare you. Ohio has an actual hockey team: the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have an arena with ice and everything. And, just like a real-deal sports team, they have a Vivek-boosting owner. John H. McConnell II, grandson of the franchise's founder and a member of the ownership group, gave $25,000 with his wife.

That’s not the only hockey money in the race, though. It’s also coming in from out of state. 

Jimmy Haslam’s brother, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, now owns the Nashville Predators. He and his wife donated $33,231. 

That’s enough hockey chat! On to soccer. The Haslams have the Columbus Crew, but the state’s other MLS team, FC Cincinnati, is also owned by a Ramaswamy backer. Carl Lindner III, the son of former Reds owner Carl Lindner Jr., put in $33,231 alongside his wife. 

All in all, a group of well-meaning people who surely only want what’s best for America and the great state of Ohio.

Thanks for reading! I’ll see you next week!

Vivek Ramaswamy via Michael M. Santiago / Staff / Getty; Bengals foam finger via Fathead