Ohio voters are gearing up to make significant decisions on the state’s abortion laws, and in an unexpected move, Republican Governor Mike DeWine has actively entered the debate.
DeWine, in an interview with Fox News Digital, explained why he chose to run his first-ever ad addressing a state ballot measure, particularly one aimed at enshrining abortion access in the state’s constitution.
He expressed his belief that the proposal doesn’t align with the preferences of most Ohio voters.
“Fran and I have never done an ad before for a statewide issue or even a local issue but we both feel very strongly about this and I think whether you’re pro-choice or pro-life the constitutional amendment that we will be voting on in a couple of weeks just goes way, way too far,” DeWine told Fox News Digital at the governor’s mansion in Columbus, Ohio following an ad he ran with Ohio’s First Lady urging his constituents to vote “No” on Issue 1, a November constitutional amendment on abortion.
“It would allow abortion at any point in the pregnancy,” DeWine said. “It would negate Ohio’s law that we’ve had on the books for many, many years that prohibits partial birth abortion.”
The issue of partial-birth and late-term abortion in Ohio has gained prominence, especially among those opposing Issue 1.
Protect Women Ohio, a group in opposition, has highlighted a $100,000 donation from Dr. Martin Haskell, a Dayton-area doctor recognized as “the inventor of the partial-birth abortion procedure,” in support of the constitutional amendment.
“We have a law that says that you have to have parental consent in regard to a minor getting an abortion that would be knocked out by this constitutional amendment as well. So it would put Ohio in a small category of the most permissive states in the union in regard to abortion. I just don’t think it fits Ohio. It’s not who we are. It’s not where we are.”
DeWine expressed concern about deceptive ads run by groups supporting a “Yes” vote on Issue 1. He mentioned an ad that misleadingly discussed the amendment guaranteeing help for miscarriages.
DeWine emphasized that overturning a constitutional amendment approved by the people is rare in Ohio, implying that if this amendment passes, it’s likely to be permanent.
The Governor explained, “Roe and another Supreme Court case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, allowed Ohio and other states to put some restrictions on abortion,” citing examples like parental notification and laws pertaining to abortion for children with disabilities, which would be affected by the proposed constitutional amendment.
He acknowledged that the abortion issue was a contentious one, especially concerning the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade, and this had an impact on Republicans in the previous midterm elections, possibly contributing to their failure to achieve a “Red Wave” result.
