Updated: November 8, 2022, 10:21 P.M. ET
Mike DeWine, Ohio鈥檚 Republican incumbent governor, has won his bid to be re-elected as Ohio Governor against Nan Whaley, Democratic candidate and former Dayton mayor, according to the AP.
As a candidate, DeWine has kept a low-profile as part of his campaign strategy to avoid discussing controversial political issues, such as abortion and gun regulations.
Through his ads and seldom campaign speeches, DeWine touted his administration鈥檚 role in bringing companies like Intel to Ohio, growing the economy, and investing in children鈥檚 initiatives.
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In the final days leading up to the election, DeWine told supporters that Ohio is moving in the right direction under his leadership.
鈥淭his is a state that is moving forward,鈥� said DeWine. 鈥淢y goal is that every Ohio and live up to their God given potential. I think it鈥檚 what the people of the state want. I think they want a governor who is focused on the future and focused on investing in the people, focused on investing in the infrastructure of the state. That's what I've done.鈥�
DeWine鈥檚 game plan for re-election included a refusal to debate Whaley, which resulted in the Republican nominee refusing to share a stage with the first woman to ever be nominated for governor by a major party in Ohio.
Whaley had made the issue of abortion a centerpiece of her campaign at a time when it appeared the topic could trigger a groundswell of support, based on the momentum generated by the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 decision to overturn constitutional protections to abortion rights.
鈥淒eWine has been in office for 46 years, my entire life, trying to ban abortion. And just last week, he said he wants to go as far as possible," Whaley told a crowd during a campaign stop.
Whaley鈥檚 platform also included stricter gun regulation policies and a crackdown on corruption, stemming from the ongoing bribery investigation in federal court regarding a $1 billion nuclear bailout bill.
But the reach of Whaley鈥檚 signal on these issues was limited by DeWine鈥檚 refusal to debate and lower campaign fundraising.
