You’d think a guy in his late 70s with fifty years of politics under his belt would be ready to just coast. Especially since the Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, is officially in his "lame duck" era. But honestly? The vibe in Columbus right now is anything but sleepy.
DeWine is currently serving the final year of his second term in 2026. Because of term limits, he can't run again, which usually means a governor starts packing boxes and looking for a library to name after themselves. Instead, DeWine is leaning into a massive $190 billion biennial budget for 2026-2027 that he just signed into law. He's basically trying to lock in his legacy before the keys to the Cedar Point state change hands.
The Budget Battle and Why It Matters to You
It’s easy to tune out when people start talking about state budgets. It sounds like a snooze fest. But this specific one—Am. Sub. House Bill 96—is actually kind of a big deal for anyone living in the Buckeye State.
DeWine didn't just sign it; he went through it with a red pen and issued 67 line-item vetoes. That’s a lot. He’s pushing hard on things like career-technical education and "Science of Reading" literacy programs. It’s clear he wants to be remembered as the "education governor." He's also been making a lot of noise about "future-proofing" the workforce, especially with all those aerospace and medical companies moving into the Silicon Heartland.
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The current Governor of Ohio has also been obsessed with some pretty granular stuff lately. Take seatbelts, for instance. Just this month, he and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel—yeah, the former OSU coach who stepped into the role after Jon Husted went to the U.S. Senate—launched a new safety campaign. It sounds small, but traffic fatalities in Ohio have dropped for four straight years under DeWine's watch. He's clearly counting that as a win.
The Elephant in the Room: The 2026 Race
Even though Mike DeWine is the guy in the big chair right now, everyone is looking over his shoulder at who’s coming next. The race to become the next Governor of Ohio is already getting messy.
Last week, DeWine officially threw his weight behind Vivek Ramaswamy for the Republican ticket. It was a bit of a surprise to some, considering their styles are... well, different. Ramaswamy is the biotech billionaire who’s been barnstorming the state with a "burn it down" energy, while DeWine is the ultimate institutionalist. But DeWine’s endorsement came right after Ramaswamy picked State Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate.
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On the other side, you’ve got Dr. Amy Acton. Remember her? She was the face of Ohio’s COVID-19 response and a polarizing figure for many. She’s running with David Pepper, and the polls are neck-and-neck.
What Most People Get Wrong About DeWine’s Power
There’s this misconception that once a governor is term-limited, they lose all their juice. That's not really how it works in Ohio.
Because DeWine doesn't have to worry about being re-elected, he’s actually been taking some "principled" stands that annoy both sides of the aisle. He’s been vetoing bills from his own party when he thinks they overreach, and he’s using executive orders—like the one he just signed to investigate SNAP beverage exclusions—to bypass the legislature when they move too slow.
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He’s focused on three big things for his final months:
- Job Retention: Trying to keep college grads from fleeing to Chicago or New York.
- Violent Crime: Pushing state-supported task forces that just cleared 500 felony arrests last year.
- The "American Dream" Narrative: He talks about this in almost every speech. It's his way of framing Ohio as a place where you can actually afford a house and a life.
What Happens Next?
If you're an Ohioan or just someone watching from the outside, the next few months are the "closing arguments" for the DeWine administration. He isn't just waiting for January 2027 to roll around. He's trying to make sure the state's trajectory is set in stone.
Actionable Insights for Ohioans:
- Watch the Primaries: The May 5, 2026, primary is the real hurdle. If you want a say in who succeeds the Governor of Ohio, that's the date that matters more than November.
- Check the Budget Details: If you're a parent or a student, look into the new scholarship incentives in HB 96. There's real money moving into career tech and higher ed right now.
- Stay Informed on Law Enforcement: Keep an eye on the "Violent Crime Reduction" operations in cities like Cincinnati and Cleveland; the state is pouring massive resources into these local-state partnerships this year.
DeWine says he wakes up every morning with a "sense of urgency" because his time is running out. Whether you love his policies or can't wait for him to leave, you've got to admit—the guy isn't going out quietly.
Next Steps for You:
Check your voter registration status before the April deadline if you plan to vote in the gubernatorial primary. You can also head over to the official Ohio Governor website to see the full list of those 67 line-item vetoes and see how they might impact your local community's funding.