COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that no governor would sign a bill cutting the powers of the governor’s office, pushing back on talk that the Republican-led legislature might use its lame-duck session to shrink the office before Democrat Amy Acton takes it over in January.
Speaking at an Ohio Chamber of Commerce post-election conference in Columbus, DeWine was asked whether he would veto such a measure. “No governor would sign,” he said, according to reporter Morgan Trau, who covered the remarks.
“I don’t think any governor is going to approve anything, whether Democrat or Republican, that would dramatically change the powers of the governor,” DeWine said. “I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
DeWine said he has not spoken with Republican legislative leaders about the idea, and no bill to cut the governor’s powers has been introduced.
Sen. Bill Reineke, a Tiffin Republican set to become Senate president, said Senate Republicans have not discussed the idea as a group, according to Trau’s reporting. Sen. Bill DeMora, a Columbus Democrat, said Acton should threaten to veto Republican budget priorities if lawmakers move against her powers.
DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine met with Acton and her husband at the governor’s residence on Wednesday, a day after Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy to become Ohio’s governor-elect. Acton launched her transition on Thursday, naming former Strickland chief of staff John Haseley to lead it. She takes office Jan. 11, 2027.
