Ohio Democrats turn on Gov. Mike DeWine for not imposing sterner coronavirus rules

COLUMBUS, Ohio—During the first few weeks of the coronavirus crisis, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine won widespread praise from a large number of Democrats for his swift “stay-at-home” and business closure orders.

But if the response to DeWine’s coronavirus speech Wednesday evening is any sign, the governor’s coronavirus honeymoon with Democrats is quickly giving way to criticism for not implementing a statewide mask requirement and continuing to roll back other social-distancing rules even as cases in Ohio are again on the rise.

In his speech, DeWine urged all Ohioans to take “immediate action” to slow the spread of the virus, including wearing masks while in public. But he also didn’t announce any new health orders, saying “that discussion is for another time.”

“As Ohioans tuned in tonight seeking assurance during these chaotic and frightening times, many of us hoped to see the governor take decisive action to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes in a statement following DeWine’s speech. “Instead, what we witnessed was a governor who refuses to lead in times of crisis for fear of standing up to the political pressure within his own party.”

“His cowardice keeps him from doing the right thing, and keeps Ohioans suffering far longer than is necessary,” Sykes continued.

David Pepper, the Ohio Democratic Party’s chair who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general against DeWine in 2014, noted in a statement that he publicly praised the governor in the early months of the coronavirus crisis.

“I could not be more disappointed in his speech today,” Pepper said. “As cases and deaths rise, he announced nothing that will change that direction. ...More must be done. Immediately. And a broad, bipartisan majority of Ohioans strongly supports more being done.”

A number of Democratic candidates for state legislature tweeted similar criticism of DeWine’s speech.

“A big nothingburger with a side of disappointment,” wrote Patricia Lawrence, the Democratic nominee for House District 65, a heavily Republican district in Clermont County.

DeWine’s fellow Republicans, meanwhile, offered little public response to his speech.

State Rep. Jon Cross, a Northwest Ohio Republican who’s been a vocal critic of the DeWine administration’s coronavirus orders, tweeted during the speech that people should check out a new program offering grants for technology training.

A spokesman for Senate President Larry Obhof, a Medina Republican, didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment about the governor’s remarks.

When asked for a statement about the speech, House Speaker Larry Householder, a Perry County Republican who has also frequently criticized DeWine’s coronavirus rules, issued a one-sentence statement Wednesday evening.

Ohio Supreme Court to hear media case over releasing video footage of judge’s shooting

Ohio travelers must now quarantine when visiting New York, New Jersey, Connecticut due to coronavirus spike

Ohio’s new color-coded coronavirus alert system guidelines leave a lot of room for interpretation