Mike DeWine triumphs again in the Ohio gubernatorial election, with Ohioans re-electing him for his second and final term as Governor of Ohio.
One of the most accomplished politicians in Ohio history, the incumbent, is a statewide and national name among citizens and politicians alike. In his 40+ years of service, DeWine has served as a congressman, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator, and state attorney general before being elected as state governor in 2018.
He and his running mate Jon Husted defeated Democratic challenger, Dayton mayor Nan Whaley and her running mate Cheryl Stevens.
From endorsements to fundraising, DeWine was consistently outperforming Whaley. Upon announcing his re-election, he garnered the support of the Ohio GOP and former president Donald Trump. By October, DeWine had up to more than $7 million in campaign finance, while Whaley brushed just under $750,000.
This gubernatorial election took on a different look since DeWine refused to debate Whaley in a formal statewide setting. The only time the candidates had any exchange was in a virtual endorsement interview hosted by the editorial team at cleveland.com, during which they discussed several of issues plaguing citizens.
Abortion and gun reform proved to be the defining issues for this race. With the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the increasingly worrisome frequency of mass shootings across the country, Whaley challenged DeWine’s outlook and approach to combating these issues properly throughout his entire political career.
Nonetheless, each candidate exhibited different campaign strategies. While Whaley primarily focused on reproductive rights, DeWine focused on the economy.
Throughout much of his campaign trail, DeWine highlighted his accomplishments during his first governing tenure, including the largest tax cut in Ohio’s history and the historic Intel Semiconductor Factory project, which he said would make Ohio a leader in the U.S.-China tech war. He also campaigned as an unyielding advocate for better access to mental health services, gun rights, and the right to life, even branding himself as “the most pro-life governor” in state history.
DeWine also led Ohio during the coronavirus pandemic, enacting business and school closures across the state, even to the disdain of his political party, as well as working to preserve Ohio’s livelihoods. During his campaign this election cycle, he assured Ohioans that he would work tirelessly to build on all the work that his legislature has completed thus far.
Despite the backlash he received from fellow Republicans, DeWine has gained the trust of Ohioans as a sensible, experienced leader who can take on any unprecedented challenge, securing him the office of governor from the onset. Upon announcing his re-election campaign for the 2022 gubernatorial race, DeWine also announced that it would be the final political term of his career.
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