COLUMBUS -- State Auditor David Yost, a Republican, announced today that he will run for state attorney general in 2018.

Mr. Yost, 60, of Columbus, a former Delaware County prosecutor, was elected state auditor in 2010 and 2014.

"As a former prosecutor, and as your auditor of state, I have fought to find the truth and to bring forth justice," Mr. Yost said in his announcement release. "I will continue that fight as your Attorney General -- in the courts or in city hall, from the streets to the statehouse."

The election campaign comes eight years later than Mr. Yost initially planned. He began running for attorney general in 2010 but withdrew when the better-known former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine entered the contest. Mr. DeWine has acknowledged that he intends to run for governor in 2018.

Ohio Democrats who might run against Mr. Yost include Steve Dettelbach, a former U.S. attorney from Cleveland, and current Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn. The Ohio Democratic Party has made no endorsements.

Mr. Yost said his top priorities as attorney general will include fighting human trafficking and the opioid epidemic and supporting law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties.

Mr. Yost was Delaware County prosecuting attorney for eight years where he successfully tried the county's first capital murder case and the largest drug ring in county history, and fought political corruption, he said.

As auditor of state, Mr. Yost said he has continued his fight against corruption, leading to criminal convictions for more than 110 former public officials. Among his investigations was the Columbus City Schools data-scrubbing scandal and mismanagement in charter schools.

In an annual financial report filed today, Mr. Yost said he reported raising $486,267 in the most recent period, giving him a cash balance of $1,084,219.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.

First Published January 24, 2017, 7:00 p.m.