Death Penalty Debate Heats Up: What Ohio's Push Means For Iowa

By John Damon

Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine is calling for the abolition of the death penalty in his state, sparking a fresh national debate over capital punishment, law enforcement, and justice for victims. While Iowa has not had the death penalty for decades, the shifting national landscape raises questions about how states balance public safety, victim rights, and criminal accountability.

Why is a Republican Governor calling to end the death penalty?

Governor DeWine, 79, announced on Tuesday that he believes capital punishment no longer effectively protects the public. This marks a major reversal for the governor, who actually helped write Ohio's death penalty reinstatement legislation 45 years ago as a state senator. DeWine argued that for the state to take a life, it must prove the threat of execution deters murder.

For the state to take a human life, there must, in my opinion, there must be evidence that in doing so it will help protect the public, that the threat of that action will deter someone from committing murder. I do not believe that argument today can be successfully made.

DeWine pointed to data showing death sentences and executions are increasingly rare, and many inmates die on death row before facing execution. Ohio currently has 114 people on death row but has not carried out an execution since 2018, largely due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs. The future of capital punishment in Ohio may be decided by DeWine's successor, as the term-limited governor leaves office in January 2027.

What is the death penalty status in Iowa?

Iowa is one of 23 states that have abolished the death penalty entirely. The state outlawed capital punishment in 1965. For Iowans who value strong law enforcement and accountability, the absence of the death penalty means the maximum penalty for the most heinous crimes is life imprisonment without parole. While some Iowa lawmakers have occasionally floated the idea of bringing back the death penalty for specific crimes, like the murder of a child, those efforts have not gained enough traction to change state law.

Conservatives in Iowa often point to the costs and lengthy appeals process associated with capital punishment as reasons to avoid reinstating it, while others argue that true justice for the most severe crimes requires the ultimate penalty. The debate remains a point of discussion among Iowa voters who prioritize both fiscal responsibility and tough-on-crime policies.

Which states actively carry out executions?

While Ohio and other states step back, several states continue to enforce capital punishment. Texas remains the nation's most active death penalty state, carrying out 600 executions since 1976. Alabama executed five people in 2025 and even introduced nitrogen gas as a method to bypass lethal injection drug shortages. South Carolina resumed executions in 2024 after a 13-year pause, authorizing lethal injection, the electric chair, and the firing squad.

Supporters in these states argue the death penalty delivers justice for victims and acts as a necessary deterrent. They maintain that some crimes are so severe that capital punishment is the only appropriate response, providing closure to grieving families.

Where is capital punishment on hold?

Some states keep the death penalty on the books but pause executions through executive action. California has the nation's largest death row population, but executions have been on hold since 2006 under a moratorium imposed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Pennsylvania has maintained a moratorium since 2015. Oregon has also paused executions for over a decade and narrowed the crimes eligible for death. These states represent a legal middle ground, where courts can still sentence offenders to death, but the state refuses to carry out the executions.

Are death penalty abolition efforts growing in conservative states?

Bills to abolish the death penalty have recently been introduced in Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, and Nebraska. In Kansas, lawmakers have considered repeal measures for a state that has not executed anyone since reinstating the death penalty in 1994. Kentucky has seen bipartisan efforts to replace capital punishment with life without parole. Even in Texas, legislation was introduced in 2025 to abolish the practice or exempt those with severe mental illness. Nebraska lawmakers also continue to debate the issue after voters reinstated the punishment in a 2016 referendum.

Does Iowa have the death penalty?

No. Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965. The maximum punishment for first degree murder in Iowa is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Why did Ohio Governor Mike DeWine call to abolish the death penalty?

Governor DeWine stated the death penalty no longer serves as an effective deterrent to murder. He cited the rarity of executions and the fact that many inmates die of natural causes on death row before their sentences can be carried out.

How many states have abolished the death penalty?

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 23 states and Washington, D.C. have abolished the death penalty. Iowa is among these states.