Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted are expected to announce they're joining forces, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The two Republicans were likely to be formidable opponents in the May primary – the 70-year-old DeWine has significant name recognition after four decades in elected office, including as a U.S. Senator, and the 50-year-old Husted, a former House speaker, is considered a rising star in the party.
DeWine would lead the ticket with Husted as his running mate, leaving current Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Congressman Jim Renacci still in the race.
Renacci, Dewine and Husted each had over $4 million in fundraising as of the last report in July, with Taylor far behind at less than a half a million.
DeWine and Husted are expected to make their first appearance in Dayton and then in Columbus.