Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is reportedly preparing to resign from office eight months before the end of his term, marking a surprising turn in a political career that has spanned more than two decades in Ohio government.
The Columbus Dispatch first reported Wednesday that Yost is expected to formally announce his resignation on Thursday, citing “two sources” familiar with the matter. Yost’s current term does not expire until early 2027, but he is barred from seeking reelection after first winning the office in 2018.
The reasons behind Yost’s expected departure were not immediately clear. However, the move comes just days after billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy officially secured the Republican nomination for governor following Ohio’s primary election on Tuesday.
Yost had initially launched his own campaign for governor in hopes of succeeding term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. But his candidacy struggled to gain traction after Ramaswamy entered the race with the backing of President Donald Trump and an early endorsement from the Ohio Republican Party. Facing mounting pressure and dwindling momentum, Yost eventually exited the race.
Ramaswamy’s victory this week solidified his status as the GOP standard-bearer heading into the general election, where Republicans are hoping to maintain their grip on statewide offices. The former presidential candidate has quickly become one of the party’s most prominent rising figures, aided heavily by Trump’s support and his growing national profile among conservative voters.
Yost’s resignation will now leave DeWine with the responsibility of appointing an interim attorney general to serve out the remainder of the term.
Despite the unexpected vacancy, the race to permanently replace Yost is already well underway following the completion of the primaries. Ohio Auditor Keith Faber is running for attorney general in November, while Secretary of State Frank LaRose is seeking Faber’s current post as state auditor.
Meanwhile, State Treasurer Robert Sprague won the Republican nomination for secretary of state during Tuesday’s primary election, and former state Rep. Jay Edwards captured the GOP nomination to replace Sprague as treasurer.
Yost’s departure would bring an end to a lengthy political career that began in 1999 when he was elected Delaware County auditor. He later served as Delaware County prosecutor after being appointed to the role in 2003 before moving onto statewide office.
In 2010, Yost was elected Ohio state auditor after previously attempting a run for attorney general against then-incumbent Mike DeWine. Eight years later, Yost successfully won election as Ohio’s top law enforcement official, becoming one of the state’s highest-profile Republicans.
As attorney general, Yost frequently positioned himself at the center of major legal and political battles involving the federal government, election law, consumer protection, and public corruption cases. His office also played a leading role in multistate lawsuits involving the Biden administration on issues ranging from environmental regulations to immigration policy.
If confirmed, Yost’s early resignation would add another major shakeup to Ohio’s already rapidly changing Republican political landscape as the state prepares for a post-DeWine era led by a new generation of GOP leadership.
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