Mike DeWine Biography Quotes 7 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Richard Michael DeWine, widely known as Mike DeWine, was born on January 5, 1947, in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Raised in a small-town setting that would remain central to his identity, he grew up with strong ties to community, faith, and public service. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, earning an undergraduate degree, and then completed his law degree at the Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law. While still a young man, he married Frances Fran Struewing, his lifelong partner and a constant presence in his public and private life. Their family would grow large, and the personal bonds within it would both anchor and motivate his approach to leadership.

Early Legal Career and Local Service
After law school, DeWine entered public service close to home. He worked in the Greene County prosecutor's office and, in 1976, was elected Greene County Prosecutor. That role gave him early visibility and a reputation for diligence, and it placed him squarely at the intersection of public safety and community trust. His experience in the courtroom and in running a local office informed his emphasis on victims' rights and practical problem-solving, themes that would follow him throughout his career.

State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives
DeWine continued his rise in public life with service in the Ohio Senate, gaining statewide exposure and legislative experience. In 1982, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Ohio's 7th District for four terms, beginning in 1983. In Washington, he focused on issues vital to his largely suburban and rural constituency, including agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and law enforcement. He built a reputation as a Republican willing to work across the aisle when it served Ohio's interests, a pragmatic streak that remained a hallmark of his approach.

Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
In 1990, DeWine joined the statewide executive branch when he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio alongside Governor George V. Voinovich. Serving from 1991 to 1994, he took on assignments related to economic development and public safety, helping the administration court investment and address urban and rural needs. He tested his prospects for national office in 1992 with a U.S. Senate bid, challenging Senator John Glenn, a revered figure in Ohio and American history; DeWine lost that race but gained valuable experience and name recognition.

United States Senate
DeWine returned to the Senate arena in 1994 and won, beginning a 12-year tenure in the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 2000. During his time there, he worked on legislation that reflected his longstanding interests in families, public safety, and national security. He supported measures to protect children, strengthen law enforcement tools, and address the evolving demands of security after the September 11 attacks. As Ohio's Senate delegation shifted over time, he served first with John Glenn and later with George Voinovich, maintaining close ties to both Ohio and federal priorities. In 2006, amid a challenging national climate for his party, he was defeated for reelection by Sherrod Brown.

Return to Statewide Office: Attorney General of Ohio
DeWine reemerged on the statewide scene in 2010, winning election as Ohio Attorney General, defeating the incumbent, Richard Cordray. Taking office in 2011, he focused on crime laboratories, consumer protection, and the unfolding opioid crisis that was devastating communities across the state. He expanded the capacity of the state's crime lab and pushed initiatives to reduce the backlog of rape kits, leading to the identification of suspects in previously stalled cases. He also brought lawsuits aimed at holding companies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic, positioning Ohio among the states most assertive in confronting the crisis. He won reelection in 2014 and continued to work closely with local prosecutors and law enforcement on human trafficking, elder abuse, and public corruption cases. When he left the office in 2019 to become governor, he was succeeded by Dave Yost.

Governor of Ohio
DeWine won the governorship in 2018, defeating Richard Cordray in a rematch of their earlier statewide contest. He selected Jon Husted, a former Ohio Secretary of State, as his lieutenant governor, signaling an administration focused on economic competitiveness and workforce development. Early in his tenure, he launched H2Ohio, a water-quality initiative aimed at improving Lake Erie and other waterways, and emphasized child welfare, education, and infrastructure.

The COVID-19 pandemic defined the early years of DeWine's governorship. Working closely with Dr. Amy Acton, whom he appointed as Director of the Ohio Department of Health, he moved early to close schools, limit large gatherings, and communicate publicly through frequent briefings. His approach won praise for clarity and speed, even as it drew criticism from some who opposed restrictions. The public health measures, the gradual reopening, and the ongoing adjustments placed him at the center of a national debate about balancing freedom, business stability, and safety. Tensions with some legislative leaders tested party unity, yet he maintained his posture of pragmatic conservatism, keeping a focus on data and the recommendations of health experts.

Beyond the pandemic, DeWine navigated difficult policy terrain. He signed a heartbeat abortion law in 2019, reflecting his long-standing opposition to abortion, and, after the Dayton mass shooting that year, he publicly pressed for stronger background checks and other measures, while later signing legislation that removed the duty to retreat and approved permitless concealed carry, reflecting the negotiations and pressures inherent in Ohio's policy environment. He also paused executions due to concerns over lethal-injection protocols, asking lawmakers to consider alternatives, a stance that placed him between differing factions in the criminal justice debate.

Economic development remained central to his agenda. His administration worked to attract major investments, with the announcement of a large semiconductor manufacturing project underscoring the state's bid to reshape its industrial base and supply chains. He emphasized skills training, broadband expansion, and infrastructure as cornerstones for long-term growth, while continuing efforts to address the opioid crisis and to support local law enforcement and social services.

DeWine won reelection in 2022, defeating Democrat Nan Whaley. The result affirmed his political resilience and the breadth of his coalition after the strains of governing through a pandemic.

Personal Life and Family
Family has always been central to DeWine's public identity. He and Fran DeWine have eight children, and their close-knit family has been visible throughout his career. The DeWines endured the loss of their daughter Becky in a car accident in 1993, a tragedy that deeply marked their lives and informed his empathy in matters of public safety and victims' services. Their son Pat DeWine serves on the Ohio Supreme Court, a reminder of the family's multigenerational presence in public service. The couple has long made their home in Cedarville, Ohio, maintaining ties to the same community where his public journey began.

Leadership Style and Legacy
Mike DeWine's career has been defined by steadiness and incremental progress rather than dramatic confrontation. A Republican who often emphasizes problem-solving, he has worked alongside leaders across the spectrum, from George Voinovich and John Glenn to Sherrod Brown and Richard Cordray, and within his own administration alongside Jon Husted and, during the most intense period of the pandemic, Dr. Amy Acton. His hallmark issues have included public safety, child and family well-being, and pragmatic economic development.

His legacy in Ohio includes decades of service at nearly every level of government, reforms in criminal justice support services such as forensic testing and victims' assistance, a forceful stance on the opioid epidemic, and a governorship indelibly shaped by the COVID-19 crisis. Whether addressing water quality, school safety, or industrial reinvestment, he has tended to frame policy around practical needs and the lived experience of Ohio communities. From Yellow Springs to the Statehouse, his long tenure reflects persistence, adaptability, and an enduring focus on the people and places that first drew him to public life.

Our collection contains 7 quotes who is written by Mike, under the main topics: Justice - Freedom - Parenting - Health - Legacy & Remembrance.

Other people realated to Mike: Jessica Cutler (Celebrity), John Kasich (Politician)