Is Dennis Kucinich running for governor?: He’s coming to Dayton Monday

Former Cleveland mayor, congressman and presidential candidate is rumored to be considering a run.

Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich will hold a town hall meeting Monday in Dayton, raising questions about whether the former Cleveland mayor and presidential candidate could run for Ohio governor.

Kucinich will hold a Columbus press conference earlier in the day before coming to Dayton to discuss “the impact of privatization on Ohio’s public schools,” according to a news release.

MORE: Ohio leans Republican in 2018 governor race

Kucinich was primaried out of his Cleveland U.S. House seat in 2012 after redistricting put him against U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo. But with name recognition from his prior political campaigns, Kucinich’s name has occasionally been floated as a potential Democratic candidate for governor against an emerging GOP field.

Kucinich was mentioned as someone “looming in the background” of the governor’s race Thursday by the inside-baseball website Sabato’s Crystal Ball, which makes political forecasts. Still, the website predicts Ohio “leans Republican.”

Other potential Democratic candidates include Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, former state Rep. Connie Pillich, state Sen. Joe Schiavoni and former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton.

Kucinich’s event will be held at Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8690 Yankee St. in Dayton beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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