New governor sworn in at home, then at Statehouse

COLUMBUS >> Republican Mike DeWine sworn in as Ohio’s 70th governor in a midnight ceremony at his Cedarville home.

The former U.S. senator took his oath in the small ceremony hours before his public inauguration at the Statehouse in front of friends and members of his large family. An inaugural gala follows at the Statehouse later.

He and running mate Jon Husted led a GOP sweep of nonjudicial, statewide offices in the November election. DeWine defeated Democrat Richard Cordray to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. John Kasich, a potential 2020 presidential challenger.

DeWine got campaign help from both President Donald Trump, who rallied with Republican candidates in Cleveland on the eve of the election, and Kasich, a frequent Trump critic.

DeWine happens to be the oldest person elected Ohio governor, having just turned 72 on Jan. 5. His physician vouched before the election that DeWine was in “very good” health.

He is among Ohio’s most well-known politicians after serving in elected office for four decades, including as a state lawmaker, congressman, lieutenant governor and, most recently, state attorney general. In that role, DeWine opposed the Affordable Care Act and funding for Planned Parenthood.

DeWine happens to be the oldest person elected Ohio governor, having just turned 72 on Jan. 5.

He also has indicated he would have signed the so-called heartbeat bill, which would have given Ohio one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws if it wasn’t twice vetoed by Kasich, who argued that it’s unconstitutional and would lead the state into a costly legal fight. Lawmakers in the GOP-led Ohio Legislature are expected to push the measure again this year.