Who’s running in 2018?

COLUMBUS

Most Ohioans’ political attention right now is focused on this year’s marijuana ballot issue and the 2016 presidential election.

But it won’t be too long before the next slate of statewide candidates starts to jockey for position in 2018.

There’s already ample speculation about where current or wannabe office-holders will land.

It’s widely assumed that Republican state Auditor Dave Yost will run for attorney general, the office he initially sought in 2010 before switching races and securing his current post.

Republican Senate President Keith Faber’s name comes up frequently in speculation. Democratic state Rep. Kathleen Clyde, from Kent, appears well positioned for a run at secretary of state. Most believe Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel will run again for U.S. Senate. Republican Frank LaRose and Democrat Alicia Reece are among the other state representatives often mentioned for different state posts.

And then there’s the governor’s race.

Chatter

It’s a sure thing that that next Democratic candidate in that race — there’s chatter about Congressman Tim Ryan and former Attorney General Richard Cordray — will have a valid driver’s license.

And the race for the Republican ticket has the potential to get very ugly, if, as many Statehouse dwellers believe, current Attorney General Mike DeWine and current Secretary of State Jon Husted decide to duke it out.

Yes, it’s early to be thinking about the 2018 races, but perceived candidates are already being pressed on their intentions.

Husted couldn’t escape the speculation during a recent forum near the Statehouse, where he talked about ResponsibleOhio’s marijuana proposal and other statewide ballot issues to be decided by voters in November.

“Someday, I would,” he offered after being asked whether he would like to be governor.

He also said it was fair to say that he plans to seek another elected office once his term as the state’s chief elections official ends.

Otherwise, Husted’s not publically committing, yet, on a run for governor.

“There’s nothing more to see here, OK?” he said. “I’m focused on ’15 and ’16, and after ’16 obviously I’ll be term limited. There will be an outcome of the presidential election, and then, at that point in time, if I’m going to make a public announcement I’ll make a public announcement. But there’s nothing to say today about it.”

Presidential race

For now, Husted and DeWine and Yost and others are more focused on the 2016 presidential election.

They and Faber and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor are all supporting Gov. John Kasich in the Republican primary (Mandel is backing U.S. Sen. Marc Rubio).

“I think he’s put himself in a position where he’s one of the few people that can actually win a general election,” Husted said.

But don’t expect Husted to be actively involved in the Kasich campaign. He can’t, under a state law passed when he was speaker of the Ohio House.

“I’ve said I will support the governor, because I think it’s good for Ohio that he’s there,” Husted said. “He’s done nothing in this campaign to hurt himself or do anything but make Ohio look good.”

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.