Lt. Gov. Tressel says he won’t run for Ohio governor

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel says he does not plan to run for the state’s top job.

Tressel released a statement on X explaining his decision not to run for Ohio governor.

“I believe that our crucial opportunities in the areas of education and workforce deserve my full attention for the remainder of our term. My goal is to help finish the amazing work started by the DeWine-Husted Administration. Ohio is winning and it must continue,” the statement read.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine nominated Tressel to serve as lieutenant governor in February, and there have been questions about whether Tressel would run for office.

Tressel replaced former lieutenant governor Jon Husted, whom DeWine picked as the new U.S. Senator after JD Vance resigned to become Vice President.

Tressel formerly served as president of Youngstown State University and coached football for both YSU and The Ohio State University.

Running for governor on the Republican Side are Vivek Ramaswamy, who also ran as a candidate for the Republican Party during the 2024 Presidential Election, and Heather Hill, former president of the Morgan County School Board.

Dr. Amy Acton, the former director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, is running as a Democrat.

Timothy Grady announced he is running as an independent.

Former Congressman Tim Ryan has not said if he will enter the race but was said to be considering it.