Yost resigns as Ohio’s attorney general

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(The Center Square) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will leave his job June 7 to take a position with a nonprofit group, Alliance Defending Freedom.

The group describes its mission as “world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family and parental rights.”

 “I am grateful for Attorney General Yost’s long career in public service, from serving as Delaware County Auditor, Delaware County Prosecutor, Auditor of State, to Attorney General of Ohio,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. “I wish him the best in his next endeavor.”

Yost was elected attorney general in 2018. He was previously Delaware County auditor and county prosecutor.

His new position at Alliance Defending Freedom will be as vice president of strategic research and innovation., the organization said.

“General Yost is a proven, bold advocate of First Amendment freedoms who brings decades of government, policy, and litigation experience to the fight for truth – in the courtroom and the public square,” ADF CEO Kristen Waggoner said in a statement. “As censorship accelerates and God-given rights face unprecedented attack, ADF is advancing on new fronts, and we are fortunate to have a leader of General Yost’s stature and conviction standing with us.”

DeWine has not yet named a replacement for Yost, who is in his second term as attorney general and could not seek re-election under the state’s term limit laws, his spokesman, Steve Irwin, told The Center Square.

“The presumption would be that the replacement would be sworn in on June 7th, but that’s really a question for the governor's office,” Irwin said.

DeWine’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the November general election, Republican State Auditor Keith Fabers will face Columbus attorney John Kulewicz to determine who will be the state’s next attorney general.