OHIO — Attorney General Dave Yost, R-Ohio, suspended his campaign for Ohio governor on Friday.

Yost announced the suspension of his campaign through a message to supporters.

What You Need To Know

  • Attorney General Dave Yost, R-Ohio, suspended his campaign for Ohio governor
  • Earlier this month, the Ohio Republican party endorsed candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
  • The only other Republican candidate Ramaswamy will face is Appalachian entrepreneur Heather Hill

  • For the Democrats, the only candidate that has announced they're running so far is Dr. Amy Acton

Earlier this month, the Ohio Republican Party gubernatorial endorsement was given to Trump-endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy.

The attorney general said after traveling around the state he's been reconnected to Ohioans and he plans to continue serving in his current role.

"The past couple of years of travelling around my beloved state have reconnected me with my roots: the incredible, resilient people and their work ethic, the rich history and breathtaking land, the engines of commerce and prosperity and learning. I will continue to serve them, perhaps for quite a while yet," Yost said in his statement. "But it is also apparent that a steep climb to the nomination for governor has become a vertical cliff. I do not wish to divide my political party or my state with a quixotic battle over the small differences between my vision and that of my opponent. I am simply not that important."

In his statement, Yost said a comeback attempt from former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, "represents a real and present danger to Ohio's prosperity." Brown has not announced a bid for governor yet, but launched a pro-worker organization earlier this year.

Yost said the decision did not come easily, but sought advice from others before the announcement. 

"My term as Ohio Attorney General runs until January 2027. I will continue to fight for Ohio and Ohioans during that time—and I suspect that this is not my final chapter," Yost said.

With Yost suspending his campaign, the only other Republican candidate Ramaswamy will face is Appalachian entrepreneur Heather Hill. 

For the Democrats, the only candidate that has announced they're running so far is Dr. Amy Acton, the former state health director who helped lead Ohio through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yost was first elected attorney general in 2018 and reelected in 2022. He had previously served two terms as state auditor. Before entering state politics, he served as Delaware County prosecutor, was a lawyer in private practice and worked as a journalist.

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