Ohio Gov. DeWine Reflects on Term, Endorses Ramaswamy in Final Months
With 230 days left in office, term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine endorses Vivek Ramaswamy and calls sports betting legalization his biggest mistake.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reflected on his tenure and discussed the upcoming governor’s race during a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum last week, with about 230 days remaining in his term-limited governorship.
The Republican governor was interviewed by Ohio Public Radio and TV reporter Jo Ingles at the forum, where he shared his plans for finishing his time in office and his thoughts on the current political scene.
“Part of what I’m trying to do in the last 235 days is to finish your work,” DeWine said. “Work is never done.”
Ramaswamy Endorsement
DeWine confirmed his endorsement of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, despite having worked closely with Democratic candidate Amy Acton when she served as director of the state health department.
“It’s clear where I stand,” DeWine said. “I’m a Republican. I’m for the Republican nominee. The Republican nominee is Vivek Ramaswamy.”
The governor said he has held multiple discussions with Ramaswamy about policy priorities. Ramaswamy has previously stated he wants to consolidate Ohio colleges and universities, saying “We have too many of them.”
Focus on Jobs and Education
DeWine highlighted what he sees as Ramaswamy’s key priorities for the state. “When you ask him one of the most important things you want to do, (Ramaswamy’s) answer is to grow jobs, bring companies in, and second, make sure that we have educated people,” DeWine said.
The governor also cautioned against judging candidates solely on campaign rhetoric. “We should not mistake governing for the campaign,” DeWine said.
Sports Betting Regret
During the forum, DeWine identified legalizing sports betting as his “biggest mistake” during his time as governor, according to the event’s title and discussion topics.
The governor’s comments come as Ohio approaches a competitive gubernatorial election, with DeWine unable to seek a third consecutive term due to term limits. His endorsement of Ramaswamy represents a significant backing for the Republican candidate in the race against Democrat Amy Acton.
DeWine has served as Ohio’s governor since January 2019 and previously represented the state in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. The Columbus Metropolitan Club forum provided one of his final major public appearances as he prepares to conclude his gubernatorial tenure.
