1. Overview
Richard Michael DeWine, born on January 5, 1947, is an American politician and attorney currently serving as the 70th Governor of Ohio since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, DeWine has had a long and varied career in public service, including terms as the 50th Attorney General of Ohio from 2011 to 2019, a U.S. Representative from 1983 to 1991, and a U.S. Senator from 1995 to 2007. He also served as the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1994.
DeWine's political journey began at a young age, leading him through various state and federal roles. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his practical approach to governance, particularly in judicial and criminal justice matters. During his tenure as Attorney General, he initiated significant reforms in DNA testing, addressed the backlog of sexual assault kits, and actively combated the opioid epidemic by targeting "pill mills" and suing pharmaceutical companies. As Governor, DeWine gained national attention for his proactive and science-driven response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was widely cited as a model for other states. However, his governorship has also seen controversial decisions, including approving a redistricting map that significantly favored Republicans, and navigating complex issues surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and abortion, often reflecting a conservative stance that has drawn criticism from center-left and human rights advocates.
2. Early Life and Education
DeWine was born in Springfield, Ohio, on January 5, 1947, and grew up in the nearby village of Yellow Springs, Ohio. He is the son of Jean Ruth (née Liddle) and Richard Lee DeWine. Raised in a Roman Catholic family, DeWine identifies as Catholic.
He pursued his higher education at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1969. Following this, he attended the Ohio Northern University College of Law in Ada, Ohio, and obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 1972.
3. Early Political Career
DeWine began his public service career at the age of 25, serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Greene County, Ohio. In 1976, he successfully ran for Greene County Prosecutor, holding the position for four years. In 1980, he was elected to the Ohio State Senate, representing the 10th district, where he served a two-year term until December 1982.
4. U.S. House of Representatives
In 1982, DeWine successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Ohio's 7th congressional district, following the retirement of incumbent Bud Brown. This district, which encompassed his hometown of Springfield and extended to the Columbus suburbs, had been held by the Brown family for decades. DeWine secured the Republican nomination and was elected in November. He was reelected three more times, even running unopposed in 1986, a year generally unfavorable for Republicans nationally.
During his time in the House, in 1986, DeWine served as one of the House impeachment managers who prosecuted the impeachment trial of Judge Harry E. Claiborne. Claiborne was ultimately found guilty by the United States Senate and removed from his federal judgeship. DeWine's tenure in the House concluded in January 1991.
5. Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and U.S. Senate Bid
DeWine chose not to seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990. He initially considered a run for governor but withdrew before the primaries. Instead, he joined George Voinovich's ticket as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in the 1990 Ohio gubernatorial election. The Voinovich-DeWine ticket achieved an easy victory, and DeWine was sworn in as the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on January 14, 1991, serving until November 1994.
In 1992, while still Lieutenant Governor, DeWine mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate against the incumbent, former astronaut John Glenn. His campaign notably used the slogan, "What on earth has John Glenn done?", a phrase echoing a similar campaign slogan used in a 1982 Senate race against another former astronaut.
6. U.S. Senate
In 1994, DeWine ran for the U.S. Senate again, this time defeating prominent attorney Joel Hyatt, the son-in-law of retiring Senator Howard Metzenbaum, by a significant 14-point margin. He was reelected in 2000, after winning the Republican primary against Ronald Dickson and former U.S. Representative Frank Cremeans, and then defeating Ted Celeste (brother of former Ohio Governor Dick Celeste) in the general election.
During his two terms in the Senate (1995-2007), DeWine served on influential committees, including the Judiciary Committee and the Select Intelligence Committee. He was the original sponsor of the Drug-Free Century Act in 1999, aimed at combating drug abuse. In 2005, he was part of the Gang of 14, a bipartisan group of senators who reached a compromise on judicial nominees, preventing the use of the "nuclear option" to overcome filibusters. DeWine voted in favor of the 2002 Iraq Resolution, which authorized the use of force against Saddam Hussein.
In the 2006 United States Senate election in Ohio, DeWine sought reelection but was defeated by U.S. Representative and former Ohio Secretary of State Sherrod Brown. He received significantly fewer votes in 2006 compared to his 2000 victory, losing by a margin of 496,332 votes.
7. Out of Government (2007-2011)
After his defeat in the 2006 Senate election, DeWine transitioned out of government service for a period. He took on teaching positions, instructing government courses at Cedarville University, Ohio Northern University, and Miami University. In 2007, he joined the law firm Keating Muething & Klekamp as the co-chair of its corporate investigations group. Additionally, he served as an advisor for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign in Ohio.
8. Attorney General of Ohio
DeWine returned to politics in 2009, announcing his candidacy for Attorney General of Ohio. He served as Ohio's Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, focusing on major policy initiatives and legal actions aimed at protecting Ohio families.
8.1. Election and Reelection
On November 2, 2010, DeWine was elected Attorney General, defeating incumbent Richard Cordray by a narrow margin of 48% to 46%. During the 2012 Republican presidential primary, DeWine initially endorsed Tim Pawlenty, then Mitt Romney, but later retracted his endorsement of Romney to support Rick Santorum. He stated that a presidential candidate needed to offer more than just tearing down opponents, but also provide a reason for Americans to hope and believe in a better future under their leadership.
On November 4, 2014, DeWine was reelected as Attorney General, defeating challenger David A. Pepper. His victory was substantial, as he carried 83 of Ohio's 88 counties. As Attorney General, he also encouraged drugstore chains to stop selling tobacco products.
8.2. Legal Challenge to the Affordable Care Act
In 2015, DeWine initiated a lawsuit in federal court in Ohio challenging a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). His suit alleged that the ACA's Transitional Reinsurance Program, which imposed a fee on employers providing group health insurance (63 USD per covered person in 2014, and 44 USD in 2015), was unconstitutional when applied to state and local governments. DeWine argued that this fee represented "an unprecedented attempt to destroy the balance of authority between the federal government and the states."
In January 2016, the federal court dismissed DeWine's lawsuit, with U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley ruling that the program did not violate the Constitution. DeWine appealed the decision, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the dismissal.
8.3. Criminal Justice Initiatives
DeWine made "Protecting Ohio Families" a central goal of his administration as Attorney General. He prioritized significantly reducing DNA testing turnaround times for criminal investigations. Under his predecessor, DNA testing at the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) took approximately four months for serious cases like murders, rapes, and assaults. DeWine's administration reduced this to less than a month, which expedited the apprehension of dangerous suspects.
Upon taking office in 2011, DeWine launched a special sexual assault kit (SAK) testing initiative after discovering that hundreds of police departments across Ohio had thousands of untested rape kits. He allocated resources to test 13,931 previously untested rape kits during his tenure, resulting in over 5,000 DNA hits in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). These DNA matches led to the indictments of approximately 700 alleged rapists, many of whom were serial offenders, whose cases would have remained unsolved without this initiative.
DeWine also established the Crimes Against Children Initiative, which paired BCI criminal investigators with experienced prosecuting attorneys to investigate and prosecute child predators. This initiative focused on holding accountable those who sexually and physically abuse children, share or view child pornography, and target children online. His office further developed several task forces to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases throughout Ohio.
8.4. Opioid Epidemic Response
As Attorney General, DeWine took aggressive measures to combat the opioid epidemic in Ohio. He worked to shut down "pill mills," which were clinics that over-prescribed opioid painkillers, fueling the crisis. By the end of his first year in office, all 12 pill mills in Scioto County, Ohio, a region considered a national epicenter of the prescription drug crisis, had been closed. His efforts also led to over 100 doctors and pharmacists losing their licenses for improper prescription practices.
In 2013, DeWine formed a dedicated Heroin Unit to provide Ohio communities with law enforcement, legal, and outreach assistance to address the state's growing heroin problem. This unit leveraged new and existing office resources, including BCI investigative and laboratory services, assistance from the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, prosecutorial support, and public outreach and education services. In October 2017, DeWine unveiled a comprehensive 12-pronged plan to combat the opioid epidemic, drawing on his experience in dismantling pill mills, prosecuting traffickers, supporting recovery efforts, and emphasizing drug-use prevention education. Furthermore, he pursued legal action against the pharmaceutical industry, suing opioid manufacturers and distributors for their alleged roles in fraudulent marketing and unsafe distribution practices that contributed to the epidemic in Ohio and across the country.
8.5. Columbus Crew Relocation Lawsuit
In October 2017, reports emerged that Anthony Precourt, the investor-operator of the soccer club Columbus Crew, was exploring options to move the team out of Ohio. This situation invoked an Ohio law passed after the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy in the late 1990s, which requires professional sports teams that have received taxpayer assistance to offer local owners an opportunity to purchase the team before relocating.
In December 2017, DeWine sent a letter to Precourt, reminding him of his obligations under Ohio law. When Precourt failed to respond, DeWine filed a lawsuit against Precourt and Major League Soccer in March 2018. The lawsuit aimed to enforce Ohio law and ensure a reasonable opportunity for local investors to buy the team. As the legal proceedings unfolded, an investor group, including Dee Haslam and Jimmy Haslam, owners of the Cleveland Browns, and the Columbus-based Edwards family, announced in October 2018 that they were finalizing a deal to keep the Columbus Crew in Ohio.
9. Governor of Ohio
DeWine assumed office as the 70th Governor of Ohio in January 2019, following a successful gubernatorial campaign.
9.1. 2018 Gubernatorial Election
On May 26, 2016, DeWine announced his candidacy for Governor of Ohio in the 2018 Ohio gubernatorial election. He formally confirmed his bid at his annual ice cream social in Cedarville, Ohio, on June 25, 2017. On December 1, 2017, he selected then-Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted as his running mate.
On May 8, 2018, DeWine won the Republican primary, defeating incumbent Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor with 59.8% of the vote. In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee Richard Cordray, the former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. DeWine ultimately defeated Cordray by a margin of approximately four percentage points, securing his election as governor.
9.2. Tenure
DeWine's governorship has been marked by significant policy decisions, his leadership during state and national crises, and various initiatives across different sectors.
9.2.1. 2019 Actions
On February 22, 2019, President Donald Trump appointed Governor DeWine to the bipartisan Council of Governors.
On August 4, 2019, a mass shooting occurred in Dayton, Ohio, killing ten people and injuring 27, just 13 hours after a similar event in El Paso, Texas. At a vigil for the Dayton victims the following day, DeWine was met with chants of "Do something!" from the crowd, reflecting public frustration over the lack of legislative action on gun control. On August 6, DeWine proposed measures to reduce gun violence, including allowing judges to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed potentially dangerous while providing them with mental health treatment and maintaining their due process rights. His plan also advocated for expanded background checks for firearm purchases, increased access to psychiatric and behavioral health services, and stricter penalties for illegal firearm possession.
In October 2019, DeWine convened the first meeting of a Lead Advisory Committee he had appointed to guide the state's lead remediation efforts. In December 2019, he expressed support for Ohio cities to ban plastic bags, opposing two bills pushed by fellow Republicans in the state legislature that would have forbidden such local bans. On December 10, 2019, during a conference in Columbus, Ohio, DeWine stated his intention to improve Ohio's Interstate rest areas by adding more information about the state's history and culture, noting that the existing facilities were "sorry." By late December, DeWine announced that Ohio would continue to accept refugees, writing to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that refugees undergo a "lengthy, complex, and careful vetting process" by multiple federal agencies before entering the United States.
9.2.2. COVID-19 Pandemic Response
DeWine's administration gained significant national attention for its early and comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Informed by Ohio Department of Health director Amy Acton, DeWine took decisive action even before widespread cases were reported in Ohio. On March 3, 2020, he controversially canceled most of the Arnold Sports Festival due to the imminent threat of the virus. This decision, initially seen as "radical," was later lauded, with Axios calling him "among the leading governors in the country sounding the alarm" and The Washington Post describing Ohio's response as "a national guide to the crisis" and "textbook recommendations." Many of Ohio's early measures were subsequently adopted by other states.
DeWine supported federal funding for COVID-19 relief, signing a letter with 37 other governors in March 2020 urging the Senate to pass an emergency coronavirus bill. On March 11, 2020, he issued an order restricting visitors to Ohio's assisted living facilities and nursing homes, limiting visits to one per resident per day, with all visitors screened for illness. He also announced plans to draft legislation to limit mass gatherings. DeWine barred spectators from sporting events, was the first U.S. governor to order the shutdown of all K-12 schools statewide, and postponed Ohio's primary election on the night before it was scheduled. He directed the Ohio Department of Health to order the closure of the state's over 22,000 food service locations and bars, allowing only carry-out service. This was one of the earliest statewide restaurant closures in response to the pandemic and faced disapproval from some high-level state Republicans. Throughout daily news briefings, DeWine consistently deferred to Dr. Acton for specific questions, emphasizing that the state's decisions were "driven by science."
9.2.3. Other Key Actions
In January 2020, DeWine dispatched troops from the Ohio National Guard to Puerto Rico following a series of earthquakes. On January 15, he signed a 30.00 M USD funding bill aimed at assisting Ohio farmers in preventing harmful algal blooms, which became effective on February 1. On January 27, he signed Senate Bill 7, streamlining the process for military members and their spouses to transfer their occupational licenses to Ohio, thereby improving their employment opportunities. In February 2020, he announced new distracted driving legislation he was sponsoring.
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, DeWine voiced strong support for Ukraine, condemning the invasion as "unacceptable" and calling on "all freedom-loving people" to oppose it. On February 26, 2022, he banned the purchase and sale of Russian Standard vodka within Ohio due to its Russian ownership, instructing retailers to remove "Green Mark Vodka" and "Russian Standard Vodka" from their shelves. He also declared February 27, 2022, a "Day of Prayer for the People of Ukraine." On March 8, he directed the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to organize a summit with resettlement agencies, faith-based organizations, and charities to plan for the potential resettlement of displaced Ukrainian citizens within Ohio, with the summit taking place on March 17.
10. Political Positions and Ideology
Mike DeWine generally adheres to a conservative ideology, though his positions have shown some evolution or nuance on certain issues, particularly regarding gun control.
10.1. Abortion
DeWine is a staunch opponent of abortion. In April 2019, he signed House Bill 493, commonly known as the Ohio "Heartbeat Bill", into law. This legislation prohibits abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, making it one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation.
During his time in the U.S. Senate, DeWine was a lead sponsor of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and voted in favor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2003. In December 2020, as governor, he signed a bill mandating that "fetal remains from surgical abortions in Ohio must be cremated or buried," with non-compliance classified as a first-degree misdemeanor.
10.2. Capital Punishment
Despite identifying as a Roman Catholic, DeWine has not publicly joined the Pope or Catholic bishops in opposing the death penalty. He also has not joined former Ohio Governor Bob Taft, former Attorney General Jim Petro, or former House Speaker Larry Householder in calling for an end to executions in Ohio. However, no executions have been carried out in Ohio since DeWine took office, and he has consistently delayed executions due to "ongoing problems involving the willingness of pharmaceutical suppliers to provide drugs to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction."
10.3. Gerrymandering
In 2021, Governor DeWine signed a redistricting map that significantly favored the Republican Party. This map was designed to give Republicans an advantage in 12 out of 15 congressional districts, leaving only two safely Democratic districts and one toss-up district. The map passed the Ohio legislature without any support from Democrats.
This action drew strong criticism from voting rights advocates, who urged DeWine to veto the pro-Republican map. They highlighted that in 2018, Ohio voters had approved a referendum for anti-gerrymandering reform, which encouraged bipartisan support for redistricting maps. Despite having pledged in 2018 to honor the voters' wishes and support a bipartisan redistricting process, DeWine approved the partisan changes for the 2022 elections and beyond, undermining the spirit of the reform.
10.4. Gun Control
DeWine's stance on gun control has evolved throughout his career. During his time in Congress, he was known for supporting certain gun control measures, even co-sponsoring an amendment to renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 2004. He consistently received an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) during this period. Notably, he was one of only two Republican senators to vote against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shielded gun manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits related to the criminal misuse of their products. In the 2006 election cycle, he was the first senatorial candidate to be endorsed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
However, as governor, his actions have shifted. In 2019, following the Dayton shooting, DeWine proposed a red flag law for Ohio, which would allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others. Despite this, he signed a bill into law in January 2021 that removed the requirement to attempt to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense (a "stand your ground" law). In March 2022, he signed another bill into law that removed the requirement for individuals to possess a license to carry a concealed handgun in public. The NRA, which had previously given him "F" ratings, endorsed him for governor in 2018.
10.5. Highway Safety
As a U.S. Senator, DeWine actively pursued legislation related to highway safety. He participated in a bipartisan effort to lower the national maximum blood-alcohol limit for drivers from 0.1% to 0.08%. He also pushed for legislation requiring the reporting of vehicle-related deaths that occur on private property, such as parking lots and driveways, an area previously not routinely collected by regulators. Additionally, he sponsored legislation focused on determining when aging tires become unsafe, calling for a definitive study by the National Academy of Sciences on how both used and unused tires age.
10.6. LGBTQ+ Rights
DeWine has historically opposed same-sex marriage. He sponsored the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would have legally prevented same-sex marriage nationwide. As Attorney General, he argued before the Supreme Court in favor of prohibitions on same-sex marriage, asserting that such bans infringed on "no fundamental right" and that states should not be compelled to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. He was a defendant in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges, where the Supreme Court ultimately ruled against him and other defendants, finding state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
In 2021, DeWine initially opposed a bill that would have banned transgender athletes from participating in sports teams that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. He stated that this issue was "best addressed outside of government, through individual sports leagues and athletic associations," such as the Ohio High School Athletic Association. However, in December 2023, he vetoed a bill that would have banned minors from receiving gender-affirming care in Ohio and prohibited transgender youth from playing on sports teams that did not match their sex assigned at birth. In his veto message, he argued that the bill would imply "that the state-that the government knows better what is medically best for a child than the two people who love that child the most, their parents."
Despite his veto, the Republican-dominated legislature overrode it in January 2024, enacting the ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Immediately following this, DeWine signed an executive order that further restricted gender-affirming surgery for youth and proposed new administrative rules impacting both transgender youth and adults, including requirements for counseling before treatment. After significant backlash from the transgender community and healthcare providers, his administration dropped the proposed rules to restrict treatment for transgender adults in February 2024. In November 2024, DeWine signed into law a bill prohibiting students in public schools from using restrooms that do not align with the gender they were assigned at birth, further restricting LGBTQ+ rights in the state.
10.7. Marijuana Policy
DeWine has consistently expressed opposition to the legalization of marijuana. In 2019, he stated that "it would really be a mistake for Ohio, by legislation, to say that marijuana for adults is just OK." In February 2020, NORML, a prominent organization advocating for marijuana legalization, assigned DeWine an "F" rating for his policies on the issue. He also actively opposed 2023 Ohio Issue 2, the "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol initiative," which sought to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. In 2024, DeWine requested that lawmakers take action against Delta 8, a cannabis compound.
10.8. Campus Protests and Foreign Policy Stances
DeWine has taken a firm stance on campus protests and foreign policy, particularly concerning the Hamas-Israel war. Following the Ohio State University Gaza Solidarity Encampment on April 25, 2024, which resulted in at least 36 arrests (including 16 Ohio State University students), DeWine publicly supported the university's response. He stated, "I think that Ohio State did well," and emphasized his opposition to protests "right outside the door of a classroom," despite the encampment being located on the South Oval, not in the immediate vicinity of classrooms. He also supported the arrests made by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which included an officer aiming a rifle at protesters during the dispersal.
In the same interview, DeWine expressed strong support for Ohio and the U.S. "backing the country of Israel." He also affirmed his support for Ohio Revised Code Section 9.76, a state law that legally prohibits Ohio State from boycotting or divesting from companies based on their support for Israel.
10.9. Other Positions
In 2020, DeWine signed a bill into law that prohibits colleges and universities in Ohio from blocking controversial speakers on their campuses, aiming to protect free speech. In the same year, his compensation as governor was 159.19 K USD, ranking 17th among state governors. It was noted that 92 employees of the Ohio state teachers retirement system, including director William Neville, earned salaries equal to or exceeding the governor's.
11. Electoral History
Mike DeWine has participated in numerous elections throughout his political career, serving at various levels of government in Ohio.
| Election | Office | Party | Votes | Percentage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. House of Representatives | |||||
| 1982 Republican Primary | U.S. Representative (Ohio's 7th District) | Republican | 32,615 | 69.03% | Won |
| 1982 General Election | U.S. Representative (Ohio's 7th District) | Republican | 87,842 | 56.26% | Won |
| 1984 General Election | U.S. Representative (Ohio's 7th District) | Republican | 147,885 | 78.45% | Won |
| 1986 General Election | U.S. Representative (Ohio's 7th District) | Republican | 119,238 | 100.00% | Won |
| 1988 General Election | U.S. Representative (Ohio's 7th District) | Republican | 142,597 | 73.88% | Won |
| Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | |||||
| 1990 Republican Primary | Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | Republican | 645,224 | 100.00% | Won |
| 1990 General Election | Lieutenant Governor of Ohio | Republican | 1,938,103 | 55.73% | Won |
| U.S. Senate | |||||
| 1992 Republican Primary | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 3) | Republican | 583,805 | 70.30% | Won |
| 1992 General Election | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 3) | Republican | 2,028,300 | 42.31% | Lost |
| 1994 Republican Primary | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 1) | Republican | 422,367 | 52.04% | Won |
| 1994 General Election | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 1) | Republican | 1,836,556 | 53.43% | Won |
| 2000 Republican Primary | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 1) | Republican | 1,029,860 | 79.51% | Won |
| 2000 General Election | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 1) | Republican | 2,666,736 | 59.90% | Won |
| 2006 Republican Primary | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 1) | Republican | 565,580 | 71.71% | Won |
| 2006 General Election | U.S. Senator (Ohio Class 1) | Republican | 1,761,037 | 43.82% | Lost |
| Attorney General of Ohio | |||||
| 2010 Republican Primary | Attorney General of Ohio | Republican | 687,507 | 100.00% | Won |
| 2010 General Election | Attorney General of Ohio | Republican | 1,821,408 | 47.54% | Won |
| 2014 Republican Primary | Attorney General of Ohio | Republican | 544,763 | 100.00% | Won |
| 2014 General Election | Attorney General of Ohio | Republican | 1,882,048 | 61.50% | Won |
| Governor of Ohio | |||||
| 2018 Republican Primary | Governor of Ohio | Republican | 499,639 | 59.84% | Won |
| 2018 General Election | Governor of Ohio | Republican | 2,231,917 | 50.39% | Won |
| 2022 Republican Primary | Governor of Ohio | Republican | 514,374 | 48.1% | Won |
| 2022 General Election | Governor of Ohio | Republican | 2,580,424 | 62.41% | Won |
12. Personal Life
Mike DeWine resides in the historic Whitelaw Reid House in Cedarville, Ohio, which he purchased in 1974. He married Frances Struewing on June 3, 1967, when they were both 20 years old. They have had eight children together. Tragically, their daughter Rebecca died at the age of 22 on August 4, 1993, in a car accident; investigations determined she was driving too fast for the wet road conditions.
One of their sons, Pat DeWine, currently serves as an Ohio Supreme Court Justice. Another son, Brian, is the president of the Minor League Baseball team, the Asheville Tourists, which the DeWine family acquired in 2010. Former Ohio Republican Party chairman Kevin DeWine is Mike DeWine's second cousin.
13. Legacy and Impact
Mike DeWine's extensive political career, spanning over four decades in both state and federal offices, has left a significant mark on Ohio politics and policy. His tenure as Attorney General was characterized by a strong focus on criminal justice reform, particularly in improving DNA testing efficiency and addressing the backlog of sexual assault kits, which led to numerous indictments and convictions. His aggressive stance against the opioid epidemic, including shutting down "pill mills" and suing pharmaceutical companies, demonstrated a commitment to public health.
As Governor, DeWine earned widespread acclaim for his early and decisive leadership during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. His proactive public health measures, often implemented ahead of other states, were praised as a model for effective crisis management, highlighting a pragmatic and science-driven approach to governance.
However, DeWine's legacy also includes actions that have drawn criticism from those concerned with democratic integrity and human rights. His approval of a congressional redistricting map that heavily favored Republicans, despite a voter-approved anti-gerrymandering reform, raised questions about his commitment to bipartisan processes. Similarly, while he initially showed some openness on transgender issues by vetoing a ban on gender-affirming care, the subsequent legislative override and his administration's executive order and the signing of a bathroom bill reflect a conservative stance that has been seen as undermining LGBTQ+ rights and individual autonomy. His consistent opposition to abortion, culminating in the signing of one of the nation's most restrictive "Heartbeat Bills," aligns with his conservative base but stands in stark contrast to reproductive rights advocates.
Overall, DeWine is seen as a seasoned and effective politician who has navigated complex issues with a blend of traditional conservative principles and, at times, a pragmatic, data-driven approach. His impact on Ohio is multifaceted, marked by both significant achievements in public safety and health, and controversial decisions on social and electoral issues that reflect the ongoing political and ideological divides within the state and the nation.