The following conversation has been edited for clarity and length. While more topics were discussed with the governor, this story focuses on questions surrounding his legacy and political struggle.
Trau: “You’ve been in politics for 50 years. You’ve had a lot of success in many of your endeavors: landslide elections, big companies coming to the state. How badly are you playing your cards when it comes to choosing a successor to continue your legacy?”
DeWine: “Well, it’s up to the people to choose my successor, and my job is to give my all for eight years. I was lucky that the people gave me two terms as governor of Ohio. I think whoever the successor is, I’m sure he cares very, very much about Ohio and will do a good job.
Trau: “Of the two people seen as the top candidates, Amy Acton is on the Democratic side and Vivek Ramaswamy is on the Republican side. You and he are very, very different in personality, but also in political beliefs. Are you comfortable supporting someone who is different from you in terms of school, health, education, immigration?”
DeWine: “Well, first of all, I said I would support the Republican candidate for governor. Vivek and I sat here and had a lot of conversations, I think three very long conversations, and our plan is to continue that and have more conversations. I’m really not sure we’re that far apart. He hasn’t held this office before, and I’m just trying to talk about some of my experiences and also talk to him and hear from him about where he thinks Ohio should go and what his goals are.
Trau: “Hasn’t Vivek Ramaswamy won your support yet?”
DeWine: “I think it’s a process. I didn’t know him. I met him a few times, but I didn’t really know him. Endorsements are a big deal. I don’t know how much influence they have. I’m not sure people really care who endorses who. I think it ultimately comes down to the candidate. So the endorsement, I think, is a lot more hype than it’s really worth. But I want to get to know him. I still do. We’re still discussing some issues, but I fully expect to endorse the GOP candidate for governor… Very much so.” I enjoyed the conversations we had and we discussed many of the crucial issues facing the governor and the people of Ohio, and there are a lot of them.”
The governor continued by giving examples of challenges facing the office. On Thursday, he addressed why he has not yet endorsed the proposal with a more direct answer.
“I want to better understand his position and what his vision is,” he said.
But DeWine said he has a sense of urgency, especially when it comes to making sure his priorities – literacy, mental health and child support – come to fruition and are continued by the next administration.
“Will this be a priority for the next governor? I don’t know that… The burden of proof is on us to show that what we’re doing is actually making a difference,” DeWine said.
The governor also addressed Acton and the criticism he is currently facing from Ramaswamy’s campaign to “shut down” Ohio during the pandemic.
“The decisions about what to do were mine,” DeWine said. “Buck is staying with the governor… Buck is staying with me. I’ve made my decisions.”
He continued that he thought he was getting advice from many different experts and decided to act on the best advice.
“I am a responsible official. I am the person responsible for these decisions,” DeWine said.
Trau: “Despite how you think Jon Husted is doing in the Senate, do you regret appointing him because he will no longer follow in your footsteps as governor?”
DeWine: “Now I had two options, two types. I’m very cheerful to have had this opportunity, and the first one was to get into the United States Senate… I know how crucial this job is. I know how crucial it is for Ohio to have someone who truly understands this state. No one understands this better than Jon Husted. Jon did a phenomenal job… My second choice… I am very, very cheerful with Jim Tressel… What I see every day is even better than I could have imagined. This guy is a natural leader. He has contact with people. Analyzes problems. He could be successful in any job he could ever find himself in. He’s a phenomenal guy.
Trau: “Were you disappointed when he decided not to run for governor?”
DeWine: “Well, he had to make that choice… I think he was very surprised and asked if he would serve as lieutenant governor. I never once asked him, “Are you going to run?” I asked, “Will you serve as lieutenant governor?” I think you are the best person. If something happened to me, I would feel very good if you came in and became governor.”
Trau: “Well, yes, but we both know you’re strategic. Apparently his name is recognized in the state. Apparently people love him. And he would carry on your legacy as well. How much did that factor into that?”
DeWine: “Well, I wanted someone who, if something happened to me, if I couldn’t serve, if I died, could come in and continue the work that we were doing… Look, he independently made the decision not to enter the race.
Trau: “When you look back at the experience you’ve been through, are you concerned about the two people who are running in this race who have never actually held elected public office?”
DeWine: “Well, I think we’re seeing more of this… Look, there’s learning in every profession. I think the key for someone who hasn’t held public office before is that you need to surround yourself with good people, and that’s no different than if someone had 50 years of experience like me. You want good people; the people around you are very, very important, and in my experience you need people who are willing to tell you when you’re wrong, or point out the consequences of a certain action, so that you can then appreciate the value of that information. You don’t want to be surrounded by people who tell you, “Yes, you’re right all the time.”
He continued that the governor needs to know who he is and what his values are, but he also needs others to support him be experts in specific areas.
Trau: “Is it bad for Ohio that it doesn’t really have an elementary school?”
DeWine: “That’s the way it is. I’ve been in politics for a long time, I’ve been in a lot of races, and most of the time, many times, I’ve had contested primaries. That’s what I used to do. That’s the norm, at least, it seems. The filing deadline hasn’t passed yet, maybe someone will come out and run, but it looks like we almost know who will be the Republican nominee and who will be the Democratic nominee. That’s unusual. That’s the way it is, and people will have a choice. I think it’s going to be a very interesting campaign.”
Trau: “Jon Husted has quite an intense race ahead of him. He’ll be up against Sherrod Brown, who you obviously knew from the race.”
DeWine: “Yeah, yeah, Sherrod Brown beat me, so yeah.
Trau: – Are you worried?
DeWine: “We look at Ohio and people now say it’s a “really red state… It’s certainly a state where a Democrat can win statewide.” There is no doubt about it.
“We don’t know what the political climate will be like in a year or 10 months. Sure, everyone has to worry and you always have to run very, very challenging, but one thing I know about Jon Husted: No one will outwork him. The guy is a phenomenal employee. He knows how to raise money. He knows how to run a campaign. No one will outwork the money. No one will outwork him. I think he’s a very attractive candidate and he’s someone who cares passionately about the country, and I don’t know anyone who knows more about the country than Jon Husted.”
Final thoughts
Trau: “Is your legacy in danger?”
DeWine: “Oh, I guess I shouldn’t worry about legacy. I’m not worried about the legacy. What worries me though is that I have 390 days left and I want to make the most of them and do the best I can… There are just a lot of things in progress and I have a year to try to finish them or at least get them into a solid place.
Trau: “Are you a dying breed of Republican?”
DeWine: “Well, I don’t know if I’m a dying breed of Republican… I consider myself a Reagan Republican and I don’t think my basic principles have changed. Do parties evolve? Yes, they are evolving. We only have two parties so they have to evolve and that’s what we’re seeing.
Trau: “Anything else you want to add?”
DeWine: “Whoever the governor is, there is nothing more crucial than our children… We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure that a child lives up to his God-given potential. To me, that’s the most crucial thing any governor can do.
