In a remarkable reversal, departing Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine — who co-wrote the state’s death penalty bill more than 45 years ago — publicly urged the state to abolish capital punishment. “I no longer believe the death penalty is a deterrent to murder,” DeWine said. “The moral justification I had for voting for the death penalty simply no longer exists.” The announcement carries particular weight given DeWine’s own legislative history and his party affiliation, adding his voice to a growing bipartisan movement questioning the practice.
Ohio’s Republican Governor Calls for End to Death Penalty
