Ohio GOP governor hopefuls use national convention as springboard for 2026

MILWAUKEE - Ohio Republicans eyeing the governor's mansion were unified on one point this week: The 2024 election isn't about 2026.

But it also didn't hurt to spend several days in Wisconsin rubbing shoulders with their fellow Republicans − and in one case, getting the spotlight on a national stage.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted , Attorney General Dave Yost and Treasurer Robert Sprague are angling for the chance to replace Gov. Mike DeWine in January 2027. DeWine can't run for reelection because he's term limited, meaning Ohio could see a spirited Republican primary once the election cycle heats up.

More: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine navigates changing GOP at Republican convention

In Milwaukee, all three Republican statewide officeholders played key roles at the convention.

Yost and Sprague both hosted Ohio delegation breakfasts at a posh resort near Lake Geneva. On the opening day of the convention, Yost saddled up to a piano and performed a spoof of "Old Time Rock & Roll" mocking Democrats. The attorney general also offered delegates a deck of cards with prominent Ohio Republicans symbolizing the king, queen and jack.

The biggest platform went to Husted. Former President Donald Trump's team asked him to give the nomination speech for Ohio Sen. JD Vance, whom Trump selected as his running mate. Before a huge crowd of Republicans, Husted touted Vance's Ohio roots and cast him as someone who will represent the country with "moral courage, strength and honor."

Days later, he demurred when asked how that elevated his own political career.

"I like to play my role," Husted said. "I play the role of lieutenant governor, being a leading spokesperson for the party in Ohio and articulating a vision that is great for America and great for our state. If political benefit accrues to me as a result of being a leader now for the 2026 election cycle, then that's great, all the better, but I'm just focused on the here and now."

Ohio governor hopefuls keep message on 2024

Yost and Sprague offered the same message: Republicans most focus on their efforts to reelect Trump and oust Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown from the U.S. Senate.

"This is the national convention, not the state convention," Yost said. "While all of these people are important in Republican circles − and it's good to be with them, many of them are my friends from a long time ago − my focus is really on building the party to win this year's election. There'll be plenty of time going forward."

Yost did make one plug for himself: He said his life experience, including his time as an "ink-stained wretch" − i.e., a journalist − qualifies him for the job. Even still, he used a Husted pint glass from the delegation's grab bag to drink a Coke in his hotel room.

Sprague, for his part, said he's definitely considering a run for governor. But he didn't want to put the cart before the horse.

"This week for me is just about supporting the president, supporting JD Vance and making sure that we're all on the same page," Sprague said. "We really do have a unique opportunity to turn this country around. And not only is the future of our country at stake, quite frankly, the future of the world is at stake."

Vance's vice-presidential nomination raised speculation about who would fill his Senate seat if Republicans win the White House in November. Gov. Mike DeWine would appoint someone to fill the seat until a special election is held in 2026, and some speculated that he could thin the field of governor candidates. But DeWine hasn't said who he's considering for the role.

Husted, too, cautioned Republicans against getting ahead of themselves.

"We need to finish this game," he said. "We need to run through the tape. We need to win in November. And we should not feel like victory is inevitable because Joe Biden and the national media and coastal elites will pull out every stop that they can to try to defeat Donald Trump."

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio GOP governor hopefuls use national convention as springboard for 2026