Mike DeWine in 2018 OH Governor's race

On Abortion: Supports "fetal heartbeat" law (abortion ban after 6 weeks)

A court struck down such a bill in North Dakota. That leaves Iowa as the only state with a fetal heartbeat bill enacted into law and that remains suspended by a pending court challenge, said the ACLU spokesperson. Should Kentucky enact such a law, the ACLU is ready to challenge it.

Several states have expressed interest in or enacted similar "fetal heartbeat" laws, most recently in Ohio where the Republican-controlled legislature approved such a law last year, only to have it vetoed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Ohio's legislature taking office in a few days will likely pass a fetal heartbeat bill in 2019--and incoming Gov. Mike DeWine has said he will sign it.

On Abortion: Supports heartbeat bill (no abortion after 6 weeks)

Richard Cordray (D): Legal. Women should have the right to make their own personal decisions.

Mike DeWine (R): Ban. Would have supported "heartbeat bill," banning abortion at 6 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Will work to restore funding.

Mike DeWine (R): No. Nothing requires Ohio to support abortion providers.

On Budget & Economy: Make Ohio a low tax, low regulation state

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Ran Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which forced financial institutions to return $12 billion to consumers. Has challenged Ohio payday lending industry.

Mike DeWine (R): No. Make Ohio a low tax, low regulation state that's attractive to businesses. Let governor suspend regulations that adversely affect job creation.

On Civil Rights: Opposes sexual identity in anti-discrimination laws

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. "Long-term supporter."

Mike DeWine (R): No. Also opposed including sexual identity in anti-discrimination laws.

On Drugs: Opposes recreational marijuana; opposes Ballot issue 1

Richard Cordray (D): Would legalize. Supports Issue 1 as alternative to failed drug & incarceration policies. "Can't arrest way out of opioid crisis," so fund treatment & prevention programs, train law enforcement, & boost state support for families.

Mike DeWine (R): Opposes recreational marijuana legalization or decriminalization. Sued Toledo when the city passed municipal decriminalization. Also opposes Issue 1. To help address opioid crisis, expand substance-abuse & early intervention programs, and add drug courts.

On Education: Supports charter schools; supports vouchers

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Advocates increased funding for universal pre-K ($140 million per year) & more equitable funding of primary & secondary schools.

Mike DeWine (R): Unclear on general K-12. Supports increased pre-K funding, but when in Senate opposed Head Start funding.

Q: Support privately operated but publicly funded charter schools & programs like vouchers which allow parents to help pay for private schools?

Richard Cordray (D): No. "The for-profit charter schools have been a scandal. We've got $70 million missing in Columbus that we're never going to see again."

Mike DeWine (R): Yes. Says charters can be cost efficient & higher performing. Also supports vouchers.

On Education: Improve college affordability; new STEM funding

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Proposes free community college for all Ohioans. Expand Columbus State Preferred Pathways program that guarantees admission to partner 4-year colleges & enables students to easil

On Energy & Oil: Challenged Obama's Clean Power Plan

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Clean energy & energy efficiency are job engines, but also "keys to addressing climate change that threatens the Great Lakes & Ohio farmland."

Mike DeWine (R): No. Challenged Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan: "Will dramatically increase Ohioans' electric rates while. offering less reliable service & few tangible environmental benefits."

Q: Government support for renewable energy?

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Increase requirement for utilities to generate electricity from renewable sources. Believes this can play key role in revitalizing economy.

Mike DeWine (R): No stand found.

On Families & Children: Religious employers may exclude contraception from insurance

Richard Cordray (D): No. Require employers to provide coverage of contraception in health insurance plans. Considers it key element of women's health care.

Mike DeWine (R): Yes. Considers this an issue of religious freedom for employers.

On Government Reform: Opposed McCain-Feingold bill limiting political donations

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Supported McCain-Feingold bill. Also supports public financing of campaigns.

Mike DeWine (R): No. Voted against McCain-Feingold.

On Government Reform: Supports purging voter rolls

Richard Cordray (D): No. "The right to vote is vital to our democracy." Make it "more accessible to Ohioans," don't take it away."

Mike DeWine (R): Yes. Applauds US Supreme Court decision upholding Ohio's strict method for purging voter rolls.

On Gun Control: Supports stand-your-ground; opposes bump stock ban

Richard Cordray (D): Previous history of opposing restriction. Supports universal background checks & bump stock ban. Opposes assault weapons ban.

Mike DeWine (R): More previous support for restrictions. Now supports "stand your ground" law, opposes banning bump stocks or assault weapons. Would let judges seize guns from people at risk.

On Health Care: Repeal ObamaCare; add work requirements to Medicare

Richard Cordray (D): Supports ACA. On Medicaid expansion, 700,000 Ohioans have access to health care "who will not have it if it goes away."

Mike DeWine (R): Repeal ACA, believes could still keep pre-existing condition coverage. "Medicaid expansion is financially unsustainable," but would keep for now with added work requirements.

On Immigration: Supports DREAMers; but let President decide

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Embrace DACA recipients & create "pathways to citizenship for all immigrants who love & respect

On Jobs: Let states decide on minimum wage

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Fight to raise Ohio minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Will go to voters if needed.

Mike DeWine (R): Undecided. Says he's "`open to taking a look at' whether the question should go to voters." As US Senator increased to $7.25 when coupled with increased cap on estate tax. As Attorney General opposed Ohio cities' enacting minimum wage higher than the state's.

On Tax Reform: Supports Trump tax cuts; exempt capital gains taxes

Richard Cordray (D): No. A "terrible deal" that helps the wealthy. No current plan to increase OH taxes, but shift some allocations.

Mike DeWine (R): Supports Trump tax cuts. No tax increases for OH. Exempt capital gains taxes for investment in economically distressed communities.

On Technology: Preserve Net Neutrality (tiered access to Internet)

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Would require for any company contracting with OH.

Mike DeWine (R): Probable no. As Attorney General declined to join lawsuit preserving it.

On Drugs: Keep low-level drug use a felony instead of a misdemeanor

"It's important for low-level offenders to not be in the prison system," the second-term Republican governor said, adding he wants to study the issue further. It is opposed by Attorney General Mike DeWine, the Republican candidate for governor, and supported by his opponent, Democrat Richard Cordray.

On Drugs: Age-appropriate discussions in Kindergarten thru 12th grade

Accidental overdoses killed an average of eight people each day last year in Ohio. That total appears to still be climbing, he said. "I don't know that we've hit the bottom yet," he said.

It is encouraging, he added, that many now acknowledge this problem and are working toward a solution. DeWine suggested expanding the school curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade with age-appropriate discussions on drugs. Reaching so many youth from an early stage is common sense, he said.