Republican Mike DeWine has confirmed what political prognosticators have reported for months: He's running for governor.
The 69-year-old attorney general and former U.S. senator shared his less-than-secret plans with a Dayton charter school official Thursday in a conversation overheard by a reporter. DeWine told the Dayton Daily News the discussion had been confidential - but the substance was true.
His spokeswoman, Lisa Hackley, says DeWine has not particularly been hiding the fact that he plans to run for governor in 2018.
DeWine told The Associated Press on Thursday that he still is not ready to make an official announcement. He said he's focused on supporting Republican candidates running this fall.
DeWine faces a likely three-way primary contest with Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Secretary of State Jon Husted .