Ohio AG Dave Yost Resigns, Will Work for Christian Legal Group

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday he is resigning from his role, effective June 7. He will serve as the as vice president of strategic research and innovation with Alliance Defending Freedom.

Yost has served as Ohio’s top law enforcement official since 2019 and was preceded by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. He previously served as state auditor.

He also briefly ran for governor for the 2026 election to replace the term-limited DeWine but withdrew last May after Vivek Ramaswamy earned key endorsements from the Ohio Republican Party and President Donald Trump.

The attorney general shared the news over X, linking to a statement from ADF’s Kristen Waggoner, which described Yost as a “proven champion of freedom.”

“We are honored to welcome Attorney General Yost to ADF at this defining moment,” Waggoner said in the statement.

“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. 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. He doesn’t just understand these issues—he has spent his career fighting for them.”

Yost also chimed in about what’s at stake and how ADF is involved.

“This is a moment of unprecedented change and uncertainty, and the stakes for our foundational freedoms could not be higher. ADF isn’t just responding to these threats—it’s leading the charge,” he said.

“I’ve been passionate about religious liberty, free speech, parental rights, and human dignity for a long time, and to now bring my legal and advocacy skills to bear alongside the best constitutional lawyers in the world is an extraordinary opportunity. I’m honored to join this renowned organization.”

Yost’s role will involve expanding ADF’s research capability and developing “innovative approaches to advancing freedom globally.”

Both ADF and Yost have highlighted the importance of fighting for conservative causes, including protecting women and girls from competing against biological males in sports. In January, Yost spoke to The Daily Signal about how Ohio could be affected by two pending Supreme Court cases on transgender athletes.

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber’s name has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Yost, especially as he is the Republican nominee for attorney general.

However, Jack Windsor, host of “The Windsor Report,” said on his Thursday program that Faber may want to remain in his current post to crack down on fraud concerns.

Windsor said possible replacement picks might include Ohio Deputy Attorney General for Law Enforcement Carol O’Brien, or Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz. Mertz served as first assistant attorney general during DeWine’s tenure as attorney general.

DeWine issued a statement Thursday thanking Yost for his many years of service to the state of Ohio.

“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. I wish him the best in his next endeavor,” DeWine said.

“Having served as Ohio Attorney General, I know how important this office is and the great work done by its employees. I will give the appointment of someone to serve as Attorney General thoughtful and deliberate consideration.”