COLUMBUS, Ohio - A politician who finds himself figuring prominently in a TV commercial urging the defeat of Ohio Issue One has officially announced his candidacy to run as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown.

According to a news release issued on Monday, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has filed the required paperwork with federal election officials.

The conservative announced that he intends to run a campaign focused on “restoring Ohio’s voice and values to the Senate.

“Like a lot of Ohioans, I’m concerned about the direction of our country,” said LaRose. “As the father of three young girls, I’m not willing to sit quietly while the woke left tries to cancel the American Dream. We have a duty to defend the values that made America the hope of the world.”

LaRose has been getting a lot of face time on TV lately in a political ad funded by the “One Person One Vote” organization which is working for the defeat of Ohio Issue One which would increase the percentage of vote needed to approve a constitutional amendment from 50% to 60%.

The ad highlights an earlier public comment by LaRose admitting that the amendment put forth by fellow Republicans is about abortion.

Abortion rights proponents see the Issue One vote in a special August election as an effort to thwart their efforts to have voters approve a reproductive rights issue, they hope to place on the November ballot.

 “I’m the only candidate who can point to a consistently conservative voting record. I’m also the only veteran in the race, the only member of the military and the only parent of grade-school kids,” said LaRose in the news release.

LaRose says he is the only Secretary of State in the country who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump’s last year.