FILE - Republican Ohio treasurer Robert Sprague speaks during an election night watch party Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, a Republican who was planning to run next year for governor, has instead decided to seek the secretary of state’s position in 2026.

Sprague pulled out of the governor’s race Wednesday, less than three weeks after filing a statement of candidacy for the position and said he would support Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who briefly ran for president, for governor should he announce. Ramaswamy is expected to announce his gubernatorial bid shortly.

“In Ohio, we are fortunate to have an election process that is secure, accurate and accessible, but that is the direct result of the vigilance and leadership of Secretary (Frank) LaRose and a Republican legislature that takes election security seriously,” Sprague said.

He added: “As secretary, I will continue to ensure that our elections are fair, the results are trusted and our right to vote is protected. I look forward to working with President (Donald) Trump, the administration and the Ohio General Assembly to these ends.”

Sprague, who is serving his second four-year term as treasurer, cannot run for re-election next year because of the state’s term-limits law. LaRose also can’t run for re-election next year because of term limits.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, announced his candidacy for governor on Jan. 23.

Two polls from supporters of Ramaswamy show him with huge leads over Yost and Sprague. In one poll, Sprague received 2 percent and 6 percent in the other while Ramaswamy had 52 percent and 57 percent in the same polls.

Sprague said he supports Ramaswamy’s “intellective drive, the outsider mentality that he has in trying to reform our state and move us forward.”

In response, Ramaswamy said: “We were at the bleeding edge of the Industrial Revolution and patriots flocked to live here. Ohio can be that state again. Robert was a top contender for the upcoming governor race and he’ll be a major player in shaping our future.”

On the Democratic side, Dr. Amy Acton, a native of Liberty, the former state health director, is running for governor.

Republican Niraj Antani of Miamisburg, a former 10-year state legislator, said two weeks ago he would run next year for secretary of state. Antani finished 10th out of 11 candidates in last year’s Republican primary for the open 2nd Congressional District seat.

Seth Camick, Antani’s political director, said Wednesday: “Antani is the pro-Trump warrior Ohio conservative voters need as their next secretary of state. In the Legislature, he introduced the bill to ban drop boxes and require citizenship verification prior to voter registration. He looks forward to working hard to gain the support of the voters and win in 2026.”

Also, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and a member of the Ohio Ballot Board, plans to run for secretary of state, but hasn’t made an official announcement.

Bryan Hambley of Warren County, a cancer doctor, said he is running for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state in 2026.

A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide executive branch race in Ohio since 2008.