Dave Yost became Ohio’s 51st Attorney General on January 14, 2019, bringing to the office his extensive experience rooting out fraud, holding the corrupt accountable, and reforming government.
Yost earned his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and law degree from Capital University. After working as a Columbus Citizen Journal reporter, he began his public service career as Delaware County’s Auditor and Prosecutor. As Prosecutor, he won the first-ever capital case in Delaware County and took down the largest drug ring in the county’s history.
He became Ohio’s 32nd Auditor of State in January 2011 and spent the next eight years fighting fraud, rooting out corruption and “skinnying down” government. In two terms, he helped convict 170 corrupt public officials and uncovered $30 million in stolen and misspent public funds. At the same time, he promoted efficiency by identifying potential savings of $287 million for governments and school districts.
Through his leadership and at his urging, the General Assembly twice enhanced charter school accountability.
In November 2018, he won statewide election as Attorney General, an office in which he now pursues his mission of protecting Ohio’s citizens while aggressively fighting corruption across the state.
Battling the state’s opioid epidemic is a major focus for his administration, including an initiative to bring more scientific resources to bear on addiction prevention. He also is a leader in the fight against human trafficking.
He and his wife, Darlene, make their home in Franklin County. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.