The worst-kept secret in Ohio politics was revealed on Sunday, with Mike DeWine launching his campaign for governor and starting a tour of the state.
Mike DeWine made his announcement at his annual ice cream social at his home in Cedarville in front of several hundred people. He named schools as his top priority, along with Ohio’s deadly opioid crisis, which he’s been dealing with as Attorney General.
“My pledge to you is that when I’m governor of this state, I will take the lead and we’ll get in front of this epidemic," DeWine said. "We will do that.”
DeWine has been in elected office for most of the last four decades, including as US.. Senator, so he’s expected to vault to front-runner status in the four-way race for the Republican nomination against Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, Secretary of State Jon Husted and Congressman Jim Renacci.
Four Democrats are also running for governor now, including Dayton mayor Nan Whaley, Ohio Sen. Joe Schiavoni, former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, and former Ohio Rep. Connie Pillich.
