Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, a political rookie, decides not to run for governor

COLUMBUS, Ohio. (AP) - Former Ohio State football coach and current Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel says he won’t run for Ohio governor in 2026.

His decision announced Friday helps clear the path toward a Republican nomination for biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party.

Amy Acton, who led Ohio’s health department early in the COVID-19 pandemic, is running as a Democrat.

Tressel is a political rookie.

Term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine chose the championship-winning coach and university administrator in February to succeed Jon Husted, who was appointed to JD Vance’s U.S. Senate seat after Vance was elected vice president with Trump.

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