DeWine: Don’t Strip Powers From Incoming Gov. Acton
Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, that he opposes dramatically reducing the governor’s authority before Gov.-elect Amy Acton (D) takes office in January 2027, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
“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 told the Ohio Capital Journal.
DeWine also said he wants Acton’s administration to succeed and has begun helping her transition, the Journal reported. Acton launched her transition Thursday, Nov. 5, under transition chair John Haseley.
Photo: Office of Gov. Mike DeWine / Wikimedia Commons
What happens next
Republicans keep their supermajority in the Ohio legislature through Dec. 31, 2026. On Nov. 3, however, voters broke the Republican Party’s veto-proof majority in the Ohio House, so after January, lawmakers cannot override an Acton veto without Democratic support.
That timing is central to the lame-duck debate: supporters of action before January argue that the current legislature should use its remaining weeks to pass bills, while opponents argue that major changes to the governor’s powers should not be made in the weeks before a new governor takes office.
The Republican legislature’s position
From the legislature’s side, Rep. Jennifer Gross has said extra sessions may be needed to pass bills before Acton can veto them. That position reflects the view among some Republican lawmakers that the lame-duck session is the last opportunity to advance legislation under the current balance of power.
DeWine’s position, by contrast, is that he does not plan to sign legislation that would dramatically limit the governor’s authority, regardless of which party holds the office.
What has not happened
No comprehensive power-stripping package has been announced. DeWine said he had no idea whether lawmakers would pursue such a package, telling the Ohio Capital Journal, “I don’t think that’s appropriate. I have no idea if they are going to do that.”
What is known is that DeWine has begun working with Acton on the transition, and that the balance of power in the House will change in January, when an override of a gubernatorial veto will require support from Democrats as well as Republicans.
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