Governor DeWine interacts with Ohio’s future leaders

With contributions from Parker Richard and Cade Porter.

On Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 at American Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS), Governor Mike DeWine visited the Miami campus and spoke to delegates from all over the state, as he has done for many years as governor.

DeWine emphasized the value of the program for growing young men, stating that ALBBS “has a long, long history of giving hands-on experience… It’s a great experience.”

DeWine delivered a general address at the beginning of the program, highlighting his time as a Congressman in the House of Representatives, a Senator in the US Senate, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, and as Ohio’s Attorney General. After this short address, he opened the floor up to delegates for questions.

Delegates at ALBBS took advantage of the opportunity and lines immediately filled up. He answered a total of thirteen questions, with topics from nuclear energy to the importance of protecting the ALBBS program.

When asked about his least favorite part of the job by Nathan Lu of Wiehe City, he spoke on the difficulties of serving in such a high-pressure position.

“Some days I propose legislation and [The Ohio General Assembly] won’t do it. Sometimes… we have a disagreement. Things don’t move as quickly as I might want them to… It’s like any other job, really,” DeWine said.

After questions from the entire delegate population, DeWine spoke to ALBBS state government officials on the nature of high-level leadership. He then immediately went to the side of the stage to answer more questions in the form of a press gaggle. Questions ranged from follow-ups, to references to previous interviews, to his beliefs on the nature of honesty in politics.

However, DeWine was not only asked questions about more conceptual beliefs, but also more specific areas of policy. These included abortion’s place in the foster care system and his opinions on the place of the National Guard in protest peacekeeping.

DeWine fit his visit to ALBBS into a very busy schedule, with budget construction happening in the Ohio General Assembly as well as a visit to American Legion Buckeye Girls State at Bowling Green University later the same day.

When asked what it meant to him, Alex Hinojosa of Jordan City said that he was “really appreciative of him taking time out of his day because he’s a busy man. You know, he’s the governor. I really appreciate him stopping by and talking to us…”

As a whole, Governor DeWine’s visit came as a pleasant surprise to a large group of Ohio’s potential future leaders.