Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor signals she’s running for governor in 2018

Republican Mary Taylor signaled on Thursday that she wants the top job when she filed paperwork for a new campaign committee titled: “Mary Taylor for Governor.”

Related: Campaign finance reports show Husted and DeWine with $2.5 million each.

A formal campaign announcement and kick-off are expected later this year. Rick Fedorovich will serve as Taylor’s campaign treasurer.

“My priorities are jobs, strengthening families, fixing education and cutting red tape so government is accountable. I want the job of serving Ohioans as our next governor and this is an important step forward,” Taylor said in a written statement.

The filing and designation of a treasurer allows the Taylor campaign to start raising money.

RELATED: Gov. Kasich says he backs Taylor for governor

Taylor, who has served as lieutenant governor since January 2011, is expected to face off in a GOP primary a year from now against Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted, who have also indicated they want to run for governor in 2018.

DeWine and Husted have said they’ll make their 2018 campaign plans known soon.

Prior to the new campaign committee, Taylor led Onward Ohio, a political action committee that raised nearly $1 million late last year to support her political ambitions.

RELATED: DeWine lets it slip that he'll run for governor

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