Federal law holds Richard Cordray's political ambitions in check [View all]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Richard Cordray is in a tough spot.

The director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Cordray is reportedly planning to run for Ohio governor in 2018. But as an executive-branch employee, Cordray is severely restricted as to what he can do to lay the groundwork for such a campaign.

Under the Hatch Act of 1939, Cordray can't run for partisan political office unless he resigns as CFPB director. In addition, he can't take any action to further his candidacy, according to an advisory opinion from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

That means that so long as Cordray keeps his day job, he can't ask for donations, call county chairs asking for support, interview potential staff, or even organize a campaign announcement - in other words, the usual steps that credible gubernatorial hopefuls need to take ahead of formally entering the race.

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/08/richard_cordray.html