16 Businesses Urge Ohio Governor to Commute Death Sentences

Sixteen businesses have signed a letter urging Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to commute the state's death sentences. Their letter argues that Ohio's death penalty is not only costly and ineffective — no evidence suggests that capital punishment deters violent crime — but also reputationally damaging, threatening the state's ability to attract new business and investment.

As the letter states:

"Continuing to funnel public dollars into an ineffective and inhumane practice demonstrates fiscal irresponsibility and poor governance — exactly the opposite of what businesses look for when seeking new markets in which to expand or invest."

The letter comes a month after Governor DeWine's own public reversal on the issue of capital punishment. In a long-awaited announcement on Jun. 16, 2026, he acknowledged that he “I no longer believe(s) the death penalty is a deterrent to murder” and called on the Ohio legislature to repeal it.

The full text of the business letter appears below.

The Business Letter

Dear Governor DeWine, 

Ohio is known as a great place to do business. The state was just ranked first in CNBC's “America's Top States for Business 2026,” and it has the third largest manufacturing workforce in the country, along with thriving healthcare and technology sectors. But despite these promising developments, there is one issue that threatens to undermine them: Ohio’s continued imposition of capital punishment. 

There is no evidence that the death penalty deters violent crime. In fact, research has repeatedly shown that states with capital punishment have higher murder rates than those without. Despite its ineffectiveness at delivering public safety, the practice is upheld in Ohio at an enormous cost to its taxpayers. Ohioans pay more than $16 million per year to maintain the use of capital punishment and these cases cost up to ten times more than those in which the death penalty is not sought. Continuing to funnel public dollars into an ineffective and inhumane practice demonstrates fiscal irresponsibility and poor governance — exactly the opposite of what businesses look for when seeking new markets in which to expand or invest.  

Ohio’s continued adherence to capital punishment may jeopardize its reputation as a predictable, stable state where businesses can grow, but there is a possible solution. States across the country are ending the death penalty, and public support for capital punishment is at an all-time low. Governor DeWine has already shown tremendous leadership by refusing to schedule executions in Ohio and recently calling on state lawmakers to repeal the practice. As Ohio looks to continue growing its economy and build the reputation for fairness and good governance that remains critical for attracting new corporate investment, we thank Governor DeWine and call on him to take the next step and bring the state’s values and fiscal priorities into alignment by commuting all Ohio death sentences to life without the possibility of parole.  

By clearing Ohio’s death row, Governor DeWine can open up resources in Ohio that can be reinvested in public safety and economic development solutions that deliver real safety, justice, and prosperity for all.  

Sincerely, 

180Demo 
Anders Electronics PLC 
BPureSounds 
CleanTurn 
Convergent Strategies 
English Outdoors 
Forever Sunny Productions
HiddenLight Productions
Innovative Labor and Cleaning Services 
Machina Ventures  
SRL Publishing 
Televerde  
The Empower Group   
Themis Holdings, LLC and Shine Holdings, LLC 
VISION THING 
Zevin Asset Management