COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted is positioning himself in an announcement ad for governor as a pro-gun, pro-family values conservative as he makes a run for the state’s top job.
The former state senator and Ohio House speaker formally announced Sunday that he would seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2018. His announcement at the University of Dayton, his alma mater, is being followed by a campaign tour across the state:
Monday
10:30 a.m. – Dayton Kickoff Event, University of Dayton
2:45 p.m. – Findlay Media Availability
6:30 p.m. – Williams Co. Republican Lincoln Day Dinner
Quality Inn in Montpelier
Tuesday
12:00 p.m. – Cleveland, The Halle Building
6:30 p.m. – Licking Co. Republican Women’s Club Dinner, Newark
Wednesday
4:30 p.m. – Lebanon, The Golden Lamb
7:30 p.m. – Blue Ash Republican Club Event, Blue Ash Recreation Center
Thursday
12:00 p.m. – Ross Co. GOP Luncheon, Chillicothe
2:30 p.m. – Washington Court House Meet & Greet, Fayette Co. Fairgrounds Schoolhouse
4:30 p.m. – Pickaway Co. Republican Headquarters, Circleville-Source: Husted For Ohio
The Republican says his family “would firmly fit in Hillary Clinton’s ‘basket of deplorables.'” Clinton used the reference in her presidential campaign against Donald Trump, whom Husted voted for.
Husted, 49, is in his second term as the battleground state’s elections chief, where he’s drawn criticism at times from voting rights advocates.
He becomes the second Republican to join the 2018 gubernatorial field to replace GOP Gov. John Kasich who’s term-limited. He joins U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci in seeking the nomination.