Ohio Governor
What does Ohio’s Governor do?
The Ohio Governor is the state’s highest-ranking official in the executive branch and bears the responsibility for the functioning of the executive branch. Governors can put forth executive orders, executive budgets, vetoes and legislation. Governors also hold importance in the federal government, as well. According to the National Governors Association, “Governors serve as the intergovernmental liaison to the federal government on behalf of the state.”
Incumbent Governor Mike DeWine and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley are running for the seat
NAN WHALEY (D)
Former mayor of Dayton, Nan Whaley is an alum of the University of Dayton. If elected, Whaley intends to appoint a pro-abortion director of the Ohio Department of Public Health and pass the Fairness Act, which would ban discrimination in housing, employment and public affairs based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Whaley is an advocate for abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights and supports raising Ohio’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
MIKE DEWINE (R)
Mike DeWine is the governor of Ohio. He previously served as the lieutenant governor of Ohio under George Voinovich, a U.S. senator and Ohio’s attorney general. His son, Pat DeWine, is also running in the 2022 elections as Supreme Court Justice. According to the website, DeWine is focused on cutting taxes, fighting crime and creating jobs. The governor has historically opposed abortion, as well as same-sex marriage. DeWine signed a bill that bans abortions except in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, a measure often referred to as a “heartbeat bill" into law in 2019.