Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced his selection Monday morning of former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel to serve as his lieutenant governor.
If confirmed by the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, Tressel will replace former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, whom DeWine appointed to the U.S. Senate last month.
“Jim Tressel knows Ohio, he shares Ohio’s values, and is a born leader,” DeWine said in a release.
Tressel most recently served as the president of Youngstown State University before retiring in 2023. Tressel also served 15 years as the head coach of Youngstown State University’s football team before becoming head football coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes for 10 seasons.
DeWine said that Tressel’s background in education, workforce development, and economic development played a large role in his decision to ask him to take on the lieutenant governor role.
“Jim has spent a great deal of time working with and leading young people, and he will be involved directly with education and workforce development during the remaining two years of my administration,” DeWine said.
Tressel called it a humbling moment.
“I believe in our governor and what he believes in,” Tressel said. “I promised for the next 699 days to have a singleness of purpose and singleness of focus, which is to serve the needs that the governor outlines.”
The selection of Tressel comes as Ohio’s 2026 Election picture becomes more clear.
Last week, Republican Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague announced his candidacy for Ohio Secretary of State in 2026, ending speculation he might seek the governor’s seat next while throwing his support behind potential 2026 Ohio governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Sprague enters a primary for Secretary of State against former Ohio state Sen. Niraj Antani, of Miami Township. Current Republican state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, of Bowling Green, is also reportedly considering a run for Secretary of State. On the Democratic side, Warren County oncologist Bryan Hambley has announced his candidacy.
Current Ohio Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced he will run for Ohio auditor in 2026, while current Republican Ohio Auditor Keith Faber has announced his bid for Ohio attorney general. No Democratic candidates have emerged yet for Ohio auditor or Ohio attorney general in 2026.
Current Ohio Republican Attorney General Dave Yost will run for Ohio governor in 2026. Ramaswamy is widely expected to officially announce his candidacy for Ohio governor too sometime soon.
If confirmed as lieutenant governor, Tressel will be in a natural political position to decide whether he wants to join the primary to succeed DeWine as governor as well.
On the Democratic side, former Ohio Health Department director Dr. Amy Acton is the only candidate so far to declare her candidacy for Ohio governor in 2026.
Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Ohio Capital Journal maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor David Dewitt for questions: [email protected].
