Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel won't run for governor in 2026, all but assuring Vivek Ramaswamy will be the GOP nominee.

Tressel's Sept. 19 announcement ended speculation that he would mount a primary challenge against Ramaswamy, who secured the backing of President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party. Unlike past election cycles, Republicans are pushing unity over messy primaries in the races for governor and U.S. Senate.

Attorney General Dave Yost dropped out of the governor's race earlier this year as his party began to coalesce around Ramaswamy. But Tressel, a former Ohio State University football coach, said he was still considering a run .

"I believe that our crucial opportunities in the areas of education and workforce deserve my full attention for the remainder of our term," T

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