Attorney General Dave Yost wanted to be governor of Ohio.
Yost announced a bid to replace Gov. Mike DeWine in January 2025. Touting years of experience in public office, he pledged to tackle children’s literacy and stagnant population growth. He knows Ohio at “a deep, granular level,” he said.
Four months later, Yost dropped out. Republicans had coalesced around entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The attorney general, a longtime politician, saw the writing on the wall.
Now, lingering questions about Yost’s future have been answered. He announced May 7 that he will depart 7 months early in June to join Alliance Defending Freedom, a well-connected Christian legal advocacy group that advocates against abortion access and supports private school vouchers.
All eyes have turned to Gov. Mike DeWine, who must pick Yost’s replacement months before voters choose a new attorney general. The governor could opt for a low-stakes placeholder to serve the rest of this year − or he could set off a domino effect that shakes up the November election.
“I expect the governor will make this decision based on what’s in the best interest of Ohioans and not necessarily the Republican Party,” Ohio GOP chairman Alex Triantafilou said May 7. “And I would expect that he would do the right thing.”
Who will DeWine pick to replace Yost?
Yost and the rest of Ohio’s statewide officials are term-limited and can’t run for reelection in their current positions. Once governor was off the table, Yost didn’t pursue another gig. But other Republicans are playing musical chairs and hope to win new jobs in November.
Auditor Keith Faber is running against Columbus attorney John Kulewicz for the chance to replace Yost. Secretary of State Frank LaRose is trying to become the next auditor. Treasurer Robert Sprague will face Democratic Rep. Allison Russo for secretary of state in November.
Former state Rep. Jay Edwards and Democrat Seth Walsh, a Cincinnati city council member, will compete for the last empty chair: state treasurer.
This will be the third time in two years that DeWine will appoint someone to a statewide office. He tapped his former lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to replace Vice President JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. DeWine then chose former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel to be his new No. 2.
For the attorney general appointment, DeWine has a few options.
The governor could go with a caretaker who doesn’t want the job long-term. GOP insiders said it’s also possible he could choose Faber, giving him the advantage of incumbency in the Nov. 3 election. That scenario would create an opening in the auditor’s office, but observers believe it’s unlikely that DeWine would go further and appoint all of the Republicans on the ballot.
DeWine said he will give the decision “thoughtful and deliberate consideration.”
“Mike DeWine gets a lot of heat in Republican insider circles, but the man is still a conservative, and he’s still a party player,” said Matt Dole, a consultant and chairman of the Licking County GOP. “What I think that means is he’s going to talk to people. He’s going to talk to the party and talk to the candidates on the ballot and see what they think and weigh the pros and cons.”
In a statement, Faber said he “look(s) forward to having a conversation with (DeWine) about the best path forward.” And Kulewicz said this doesn’t change anything for his campaign.
“Regardless of who the incumbent attorney general is, like any lawyer, I will continue to prove my case to the voters over the next six months,” Kulewicz said. “Ohioans need an AG who is going to stop grandstanding and put that office back to work for the people of Ohio.”
State government reporter Jessie Balmert contributed.
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio AG Dave Yost’s surprise departure could impact November election
Reporting by Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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