COLUMBUS, Ohio—Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan announced Friday he will not run for Ohio governor in 2026, leaving ex-state health director Amy Acton as the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee next year against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.

“After careful consideration, much prayer and reflection, and after long conversations with my family, my closest friends and advisors, I’ve made the decision not to run for governor in 2026,” said Ryan, who lives in suburban Columbus, in a statement.

The 52-year-old former presidential and U.S. Senate candidate, who represented the Youngstown area in Congress for more than two decades, initially declared last year that he wouldn’t run for office in 2026. But in recent months, he has been openly exploring a gubernatorial run , and a Ryan advisor

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