Husted: ‘Final decision’ on governor run to be made within months

Ohio Secretary of State John Husted says he’s “strongly considering” a bid for governor but won’t make a “final decision” for a couple months. BILL LACKEY/STAFF FILE

Ohio Secretary of State John Husted says he’s “strongly considering” a bid for governor but won’t make a “final decision” for a couple months. BILL LACKEY/STAFF FILE

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted will “make a final decision” in a few months if he will run for governor.

Husted spoke on the phone to this news outlet about the address he intends to deliver at the Warren County Lincoln Day Dinner, a fundraiser for the Warren County GOP, and was asked about his intentions for higher office.

“Certainly running for governor is something I am strongly considering and will make a final decision in the next few months,” said Husted, who is attending the National Secretaries of States Association meeting in Washington, D.C. “It really depends if there’s enough support for me to do that, which is what I’m trying to determine right now.”

RELATED: DeWine confirms he’s running for governor

Husted is serving his second and final term as Ohio’s secretary of state. He previously served in the Statehouse from 2001 to 2009, including as Ohio’s Speaker of the House from 2005 to 2009, and in the Ohio Senate from 2009 to 2011.

He won election as Ohio Secretary of State in November 2010.

“I love Ohio and I want to continue to fight for Ohio, and for the people of our state,” Husted said. “But at this point how I’m going to do that has not been decided.”

RELATED: Pepper says “next up” politics is over

MORE: DeWine, Husted each have $2.5 million on hand for ‘18 run

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is the only confirmed candidate for governor, which was an inadvertent admission when he told someone his intentions within earshot of a WHIO reporter, who later confirmed the declaration.

Husted leads a short list of potential Republican candidates, including Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth.

There is no confirmed candidate on the Democratic Party side, but there is a who’s who of Ohio Democrats on the list of potential gubernatorial candidates, which includes, among others, former Ohio Senator Nina Turner, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Brunner, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, Howland.

Download the free Journal-News app, Butler County’s #1 source for local news

About the Author