Republican Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine has announced that he now opposes the death penalty, calling for an end to the punishment he once helped revive in his state. During a news conference on Tuesday, DeWine explained that he no longer believes capital punishment serves as a deterrent to crime.

"I do not believe that argument today can be successfully made," the 79-year-old DeWine said. "Therefore, I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty." His change of heart comes as he reaches the end of his second and final term, putting him at odds with the Republican Party establishment.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to expand the use of the death penalty at the federal level, including through firing squads. However, public support for capital punishment has declined from 80% in 1994 to 52% in 2025, according to Gallup.

Critics point to racial bias, wrongful executions, and botched procedures as reasons for opposition. Since 1973, 202 death row inmates have been exonerated. DeWine also argued that the death penalty is neither swift nor certain, with execution chances diminishing over time.

Ohio's current death penalty statute took effect in 1981, which DeWine co-sponsored. He now calls for its repeal, but Republican House Speaker Matt Huffman has vowed to "vigorously oppose" any abolition efforts.

The last execution in Ohio occurred in 2018. DeWine has overseen a de facto moratorium and signed a law barring capital punishment for defendants with serious mental illness. He urged the legislature to repeal the statute or put the matter to a vote.

Source: www.aljazeera.com