Democrat Crossman to face Republican Yost for Ohio AG
Democratic state Rep. Jeff Crossman announced a bid for Ohio attorney general on Thursday, hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Dave Yost.
Crossman, 49, of Parma, has pushed for transparency and reforms after former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others were arrested in July 2020 in connection with a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout.
“As your Attorney General, I’ll fight like hell to clean up Columbus and stand up for you. I’ve seen enough, and I want to do something about it,” Crossman said in an announcement video.
Crossman was one of a handful of lawmakers pushing for Householder to be ousted from the Ohio House of Representatives. He also demanded an audit on how Akron-based Firstenergy influenced utility regulators and called on members of Gov. Mike Dewine’s administration to resign over their ties to the company.
Crossman voted against House Bill 6, which included $1 billion for two northern Ohio nuclear plants. But Crossman joined 25 other Democrats to vote for Householder to lead the Ohio House in 2019. Crossman said he regrets supporting Householder and was unaware that he had been scheming.
Crossman said Yost has been “asleep at the switch” during major public corruption cases, including House Bill 6 and the now closed online charter school known as Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow.
Yost challenged the fees for nuclear plants imposed on Ohioans’ electric bills by House Bill 6, halting them before state lawmakers eliminated them altogether.
He filed a lawsuit rather than pursue criminal charges against individuals already named in the federal investigation. Yost said his office didn’t have the authority to indict individuals unless invited in by a local prosecutor.
Yost, who is running for reelection, has a significant head start on fundraising against Crossman, who has never run for statewide office. Yost had $1.7 million on hand as of July. Crossman’s statehouse campaign fund had less than $31,000 on hand.
Crossman was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2018, replacing Democrat Nick Celebrezze. He previously served on Parma City Council.
Republicans have held the position of Ohio’s top cop since 2010 when Democrat Rich Cordray lost to Mikedewine.
Democrats are still filling out their statewide ticket. Hamilton County’s Chelsea Clark is running for Ohio Secretary of State. Democratic mayors Nan Whaley of Dayton and John Cranley of Cincinnati are both seeking the party nomination for governor.
Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.