(Columbus) - Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost is dropping his bid for Ohio Attorney General to run for state auditor. He confirmed the switch in a text message to our Matt Bruning saying he would be announcing a "new direction" for his campaign at an afternoon press conference.

Yost has been asked by the state Republican party to give up a primary battle with former U.S. Senator Mike DeWine in the attorney general's race and move over to try and keep Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor's seat in GOP control.

Taylor agreed to become John Kasich's running mate in the governor's race.

The auditor's office is especially important this year because it will have a say in where congressional and legislative lines are drawn after the census.

Yost has picked up several county party endorsements, but trails DeWine in money raised and lacks the statewide name recognition DeWine has.

He says in a posting on his campaign website that he's been contacted by supporters both for and against switching races adding "I’m not concerned about whether the party likes me or not. The identity of any opponent doesn’t matter."

Yost has scheduled a 2:30pm press conference to talk about his future.