COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former federal consumer watchdog Richard Cordray is joining forces with former congresswoman and Obama-era official Betty Sutton in the Ohio governor's race as Democrats position to try to win back the key battleground state in November.

A Democrat close to Cordray's campaign for governor tells The Associated Press the decision on Sutton as his running mate will be announced Wednesday. The person requested anonymity because the information hadn't been made public.

Cordray and Sutton, who up to now has been one of Cordray's Democratic rivals in the race, served under President Barack Obama and are expected to draw big-name Democratic support to the campaign trail.

Republicans Mike DeWine and Jon Husted merged their gubernatorial campaigns Nov. 30 to consolidate support and financial resources for what's expected to be a bruising national fight.

Four other Democrats and two other Republicans are running to succeed GOP Gov. John Kasich, who's term-limited.

Sutton is from Northeast Ohio. She was a three-term congresswoman and Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation administrator.

Sutton's Friday appearance at the City Club of Cleveland as part of their ongoing forums with gubernatorial candidates was replaced with a panel discussion about the year ahead in politics.

Politics reporter Seth Richardson contributed to this story.