Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said Friday in Cleveland that she plans to run for governor in 2018, making her the fourth Republican candidate to officially jump in the race.
In her prepared remarks at the City Club of Cleveland, Taylor said she would build on the progress made during current Gov. John Kasich’s tenure in office, and recounted her political and professional background. While laying out her plans to tackle the ongoing opioid crisis, she referenced the fact that her own adult sons both have struggled with addiction.
“When I’m governor, I will continue to give my full commitment to confront the addiction epidemic,” she said. “It has touched so many families, including mine. There is no commitment closer to my heart than this one.”
Taylor praised Kasich as a “good man,” and said Ohio has “dug itself out of a hole” during his tenure. Her comments shed light on her plans to tackle the political riddle posed by her relationship with Kasich. While other GOP candidates for governor to varying degrees have sought to align themselves with President Donald Trump and his supporters, Kasich, as he nears the end of his tenure, has emerged as perhaps Trump’s most prominent Republican critic. And while Kasich remains popular in Ohio, it’s not entirely clear how Republican primary voters will view him next year. There’s also the general issue of whether Republican voters will view Taylor as too “status quo” and a continuation of the Kasich administration.
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