COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is calling on state lawmakers to abolish the death penalty, marking a dramatic reversal from a policy he helped write more than four decades ago.
Speaking Tuesday, the Republican governor said he no longer believes capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent to murder and urged the Ohio General Assembly to repeal the state’s death penalty law.
The announcement is one of the most significant criminal justice developments in Ohio in recent years and comes after DeWine spent much of his time as governor postponing scheduled executions.
A Major Change of Heart
DeWine’s position carries added weight because he helped draft Ohio’s modern death penalty law as a state legislator in the early 1980s.
For years, he supported capital punishment based on the belief that it discouraged violent crime. Now, after reviewing decades of data and overseeing Ohio’s criminal justice system as governor, he says that argument no longer holds up.
DeWine told reporters he no longer believes the death penalty prevents murders and said the facts are unlikely to change in the future.
Ohio Hasn’t Executed Anyone Since 2018
Although Ohio still has a death penalty on the books, the state has not carried out an execution since 2018.
One major reason is the ongoing difficulty in obtaining the drugs required for lethal injections. Since taking office, DeWine has repeatedly delayed executions because pharmaceutical companies have refused to provide the medications needed to carry them out.
More than 100 inmates remain on Ohio’s death row, and some scheduled execution dates have already been pushed several years into the future.
Lawmakers Are Divided
Despite the governor’s support, the path to repeal remains uncertain.
Several lawmakers from both parties have introduced legislation that would eliminate capital punishment in Ohio. Senate Bill 134 is one of the measures currently before the legislature.
However, some Republican leaders have already signaled opposition. House Speaker Matt Huffman has said he would strongly oppose efforts to abolish the death penalty, creating a significant obstacle for supporters of repeal.
Former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has also criticized the state’s effective moratorium, arguing that victims’ families deserve justice and that executions should resume.
What Happens Next?
DeWine acknowledged that only the legislature can eliminate the death penalty, though he suggested voters could ultimately decide the issue if lawmakers refuse to act.
The governor also said he does not expect any executions to take place before his term ends.
For now, Ohio remains one of the states that still authorizes capital punishment. But with the governor now publicly backing repeal, the debate over the future of the death penalty is likely to become one of the most closely watched issues in Columbus during the months ahead.