Ohio Gov. DeWine Calls for Death Penalty Abolition

On June 16, 2026 Governor Mike DeWine announced Ohio “should abolish the death penalty,” saying the moral justification “no longer exists” and that the punishment “is not a deterrent to crime.” He urged the legislature, or a voter referendum, to act.

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DeWine co-sponsored the 1981 law reinstating capital punishment after the 1972 Supreme Court decision. Ohio resumed death sentences in 1999; the last execution was in July 2018. A 2019 federal ruling on lethal-injection drugs led DeWine to postpone all scheduled executions, creating an ongoing unofficial moratorium.

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State records show 337 death-sentence recipients since 1981; 56 have been executed, 41 died of natural causes or suicide, and 89 were removed by courts. Thirty executions remain scheduled, and the average wait now exceeds 20 years (21 years per the governor, >22 years). Ohio’s death-row roster lists 114 inmates, over half are Black.

Washington Examiner

DeWine says long delays nullify deterrence, raise costs, and prolong trauma for victims’ families and execution staff. The shift mirrors a decline: 23 states have abolished capital punishment and several, California and Oregon, have paused it.

Newsweek

DeWine said the moral justification he previously used for the death penalty no longer exists and urged repeal. House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) pledged to vigorously oppose any repeal. AG Dave Yost (R) echoed Huffman; Andy Wilson gave no comment. President Trump announced plans to expand executions, including firing squads.

PBS News Hour

Speaker Huffman and AG Yost argue ending the penalty would deny justice and that executions deter murder. Republican leaders stress swift retribution. Advocacy groups cite racial bias, 12 exonerations since 1981, and millions in costs without proven public-safety benefits.

The Independent

Sources list either 337 or 371 death-sentence totals, and wait-time estimates differ (21 years versus “more than 22 years”). The stance of interim AG Andy Wilson on DeWine’s proposal is unconfirmed, and DeWine has not said whether he will use clemency powers before leaving office.

The Independent

• “The moral justification I had for voting for the death penalty simply no longer exists.” — Mike DeWine, Governor

The Guardian

• “I no longer believe the death penalty is a deterrent to murder,” — Mike DeWine, Governor

The Guardian

• “ Ohio’s Republican House Speaker Matt Huffman has already said in February that he would “vigorously oppose” any effort to abolish the death penalty.” — Matt Huffman, House Speaker

Al Jazeera (website)

• “Nobody supports a system that harms victim families, convicts innocent people and wastes millions of dollars without a shred of improved public safety.” — Kevin Werner, Executive Director, Ohioans to Stop Executions

Columbus Dispatch

Two bills (Senate Bill 134 and a companion House measure) seeking repeal sit in committee with no floor schedule. DeWine suggested a statewide ballot if legislators act otherwise. Polls show roughly 60 % of Ohio voters favor abolition, but the Republican-controlled House opposes. DeWine’s term ends in January 2027, leaving the next administration to decide on clemency or maintain the moratorium.

The Guardian