A.G. Dave Yost Kicks Off Ohio Governor Campaign, Promises to Defend Conservative Values

Dave Yost

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost officially declared his candidacy on Thursday for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026.

“This is my heart, my home,” Yost said in a statement sent to media announcing his run. “I work for the people of Ohio, and I love my bosses. From the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed at night, I’m thinking about them and our future.”

Yost touted his tenure as Attorney General, noting his defense of the Second Amendment, challenging and overturning federal policies he believed infringed on these rights. His office successfully fought against the Biden administration’s open-border policies and secured a significant U.S. Supreme Court victory against the administration’s business vaccine mandate during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

The attorney general also featured perhaps his most notable achievement: the prosecution in the FirstEnergy scandal. This legal action not only exposed wrongdoing but also saved Ohio taxpayers over a billion dollars, emphasizing his commitment to transparent government.

Yost pointed to his defense policies that protect girls’ sports and prevent minors from undergoing irreversible gender transition surgeries; and pushed for educational reforms, supporting new legislation that enhances accountability for charter schools and fortifies school choice in Ohio.

Yost, a native of Ohio, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 1984, followed by a J.D. from Capital University in 1991.

He began his career as a reporter at the Columbus Citizen-Journal before he transitioned into public service as a staffer in the administrations of Columbus Mayor Buck Rinehart and Ohio Governor George Voinovich.

In 1999 he was appointed Delaware County Auditor, a position he later won in the 2000 election. From 2003 to 2010, Yost served as the Prosecuting Attorney for Delaware County.

Voters first elected Yost to statewide office in 2010 as State Auditor. Following two more re-elections to that office, he turned his sights in 2018 to the Ohio State Attorney General’s office.

“After receiving a groundswell of support from voters across the state and much prayer and consultation, I am answering the call to duty,” Yost said. “I will be faithful. I will not falter, and I will not fail.”

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Christina Botteri is the Executive Editor of The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on X at @christinakb.
Photo “Dave Yost” by Dave Yost.

 

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