Mike DeWine

Mike DeWine
Name	Mike DeWine
Order	70th
Office	Governor of Ohio
Lieutenant	Jon Husted
Term start	January 14, 2019
Predecessor	John Kasich
Order2	50th
Office2	Attorney General of Ohio
Governor2	John Kasich
Term start2	January 10, 2011
Term end2	January 14, 2019
Predecessor2	Richard Cordray
Successor2	Dave Yost
State3	Ohio
Term start3	January 3, 1995
Term end3	January 3, 2007
Predecessor3	Howard Metzenbaum
Successor3	Sherrod Brown
Office4	Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Governor4	George Voinovich
Term start4	January 9, 1991
Term end4	November 19, 1994
Predecessor4	Paul Leonard
Successor4	Nancy P. Hollister
State5	Ohio
District5	7th
Term start5	January 3, 1983
Term end5	January 3, 1991
Predecessor5	Clarence J. Brown
Successor5	Dave Hobson
Office6	Ohio State Senator
Term start6	January 2, 1981
Term end6	December 13, 1982
Predecessor6	John Mahoney
Successor6	Dave Hobson
Party	Republican
Spouse	Frances Struewing (m. 1967)
Children	8, including Pat DeWine
Alma mater	Miami University (BS), Ohio Northern University (JD)
Religion	Roman Catholic

Mike DeWine. Michael Richard DeWine is an American politician serving as the 70th Governor of Ohio since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 50th Attorney General of Ohio, a United States Senator from Ohio, the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, and a member of the United States House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. His lengthy career in public service has been defined by a focus on law enforcement, children's issues, and a pragmatic, sometimes independent, political approach.

Early life and education

Michael Richard DeWine was born on January 5, 1947, in Springfield, Ohio, to Jean and Richard DeWine. He was raised in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where his family operated a seed company. DeWine attended Yellow Springs High School before enrolling at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in education. He subsequently received his Juris Doctor from the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.

Early political career

DeWine's political career began with his election as Prosecuting Attorney of Greene County, Ohio, a position he held from 1977 to 1981. He was then elected to the Ohio Senate, representing the 10th district. In 1982, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 7th congressional district, succeeding the late Clarence J. Brown. He served four terms in the House of Representatives, where he focused on agricultural and small business issues. In 1990, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on a ticket with George Voinovich.

U.S. Senate tenure

DeWine was elected to the United States Senate in 1994, defeating Democratic incumbent Howard Metzenbaum. During his two terms, he served on several influential committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was a principal author of the Amber Alert system and co-sponsored the PROTECT Act of 2003. DeWine was defeated for re-election in 2006 by then-Congressman Sherrod Brown.

Governor of Ohio

After his Senate loss, DeWine was elected Attorney General of Ohio in 2010, succeeding Richard Cordray. As attorney general, he oversaw the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and initiated lawsuits against opioid manufacturers. In 2018, he was elected Governor of Ohio, defeating Democrat Richard Cordray. His tenure as governor has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio, during which he implemented early public health measures. He signed the Heartbeat Bill into law, championed increased funding for education and infrastructure, and won re-election in 2022 against Democrat Nan Whaley.

Political positions and public image

DeWine is generally considered a pragmatic conservative. He holds anti-abortion views, supports gun rights, and has pursued business-friendly tax policies. However, his aggressive early response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including business closures and mask mandates, drew significant criticism from more conservative elements of the Ohio Republican Party. He has maintained a long-standing focus on children's health and welfare programs, drug addiction initiatives, and support for law enforcement.

Personal life

DeWine married Frances Struewing in 1967. The couple has eight children, including Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine. They reside at the Governor's Residence in Bexley. The DeWine family owns and operates a farm in Cedarville, Ohio. A devout Roman Catholic, his personal life and large family have been a consistent feature of his public persona. In 2023, he underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer.

Category:Governors of Ohio Category:Ohio attorneys general Category:United States senators from Ohio