List of governors of Ohio facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Governor of the State of Ohio
Standard of the governor of Ohio
Seal of the governor of Ohio
Incumbent Mike DeWine since January 14, 2019
Government of Ohio
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Ohio Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	Edward Tiffin
Formation	March 3, 1803
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Salary	$168,106 (2022)

The governor of Ohio is like the chief executive officer for the state of Ohio. They are the main leader of the state government. The governor is also the boss of Ohio's military groups, like the Ohio National Guard.

This important job means the governor must make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws suggested by the Ohio General Assembly. The governor can call special meetings of the legislature. They can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime. However, they cannot do this for cases of treason or impeachment.

Ohio has had 64 different governors. They have served a total of 70 terms. The person who served the longest was Jim Rhodes. He was elected four times and served almost sixteen years. The shortest terms were held by John William Brown and Nancy Hollister. Each served for only 11 days. This happened when the governors before them left office early.

The current governor is Mike DeWine. He is a Republican. Governor DeWine started his term on January 14, 2019. He was re-elected in 2022. A governor can only serve two terms in a row. So, Governor DeWine cannot run for a third term in 2026.

Who Can Be Governor?
What Powers Does the Governor Have?
What Happens if the Governor Can't Serve?
A Look Back: Governors of Ohio
Images for kids
See also

Who Can Be Governor?

The governor's main office is in the Vern Riffe State Office Tower in downtown Columbus.

To become the governor of Ohio, a person must meet certain requirements. They need to be a qualified voter in the state. This means they must be at least 18 years old when the election happens. They also need to have lived in Ohio for at least 30 days before the election. And, of course, they must be a U.S. citizen.

People who have been convicted of serious crimes or are found unable to vote by a court cannot be governor. There is a rule about how long a governor can serve. They can only serve two terms in a row.

What Powers Does the Governor Have?

The governor has many important jobs and powers. They are in charge of the state's military forces. They must make sure all state laws are followed. The governor can also approve or reject bills passed by the Ohio State Legislature.

Here are some other things the governor can do:

Make sure all laws are carried out. They can ask for written reports from any state office.
Give a yearly speech to the General Assembly. In this speech, they suggest new laws.
Call special meetings of the legislature for specific reasons.
End a legislative session if the two parts of the legislature cannot agree to do so.
Keep and use "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio." This is an official stamp for state documents.
Sign and seal all official papers given out by the state of Ohio.
Choose a new lieutenant governor if that office becomes empty. The legislature must agree with their choice.
Fill empty spots for other important state jobs. These include the Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.
Receive reports from each state department at least once a year. They share these reports in their yearly speech to the legislature.
Make other appointments that are not already decided. The Senate usually needs to agree.

What Happens if the Governor Can't Serve?

Sometimes, a governor might not be able to finish their term. This can happen if they pass away, resign, or are removed from office. If this happens, the lieutenant governor takes over. They become the new governor.

If both the governor and lieutenant governor cannot serve, the president of the senate steps in. They become the acting governor. If both jobs become empty early in the term, a special election might be held. This election would choose new leaders to finish the term. Since 1978, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected together. Before that, they could be from different political parties.

A Look Back: Governors of Ohio

Ohio became a state on March 1, 1803. Before that, it was part of the Northwest Territory. This territory had only one governor appointed by the federal government, Arthur St. Clair. He was removed from office in 1802.

Since becoming a state, Ohio has had 64 governors. Some governors, like Jim Rhodes and Frank Lausche, served terms that were not in a row. The first governor of Ohio was Edward Tiffin. He started his term on March 3, 1803.

Over the years, the rules for governors have changed. The first constitution allowed governors to serve two-year terms. Later, in 1851, the limit on how many terms a governor could serve was removed. In 1957, the term length changed to four years. It also added a rule that governors could only serve two terms in a row. After two terms, they have to wait four years before they can run again.