COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel announced Friday he will not seek to become Ohio's governor in 2026.

Previously, Tressel made vague remarks that he was considering a run for Ohio governor, though he never gave a concrete response when asked.

Tressel, best known in the state for his time as an Ohio State Buckeyes football coach, was tapped to fill the role of lieutenant governor in February. That announcement came just one month after Governor Mike DeWine announced he'd chosen his then-lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to fill an Ohio Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance.

After considerable thought and prayer, we have decided not to run for Governor in 2026. pic.twitter.com/iKR8KmMqdE

— Lt. Governor Jim Tressel (@LtGovJimTressel) September 19, 2025

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