Failed Tennessee execution puts Ohio death penalty back in focus
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Tennessee's failed attempt to execute Christa Pike is renewing scrutiny of lethal injection — an issue with a troubled history in Ohio.
Why it matters: Ohio still has the death penalty, but hasn't carried out an execution in more than eight years.
- Gov. Mike DeWine has cited Ohio's persistent problems obtaining lethal injection drugs, and now says the death penalty should be abolished.
Driving the news: Tennessee officials tried to execute Pike with pentobarbital on Wednesday, but she survived two doses of the drug and was hospitalized in critical condition.
- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called the failed execution "deeply disturbing," suspended another execution and ordered an independent review.
Zoom in: Ohio last carried out an execution in July 2018. DeWine has repeatedly postponed executions because the state has been unable to obtain lethal injection drugs without jeopardizing pharmaceutical suppliers' access to medications used for other purposes.
- More than 100 people remain on Ohio's death row, and execution dates have been pushed as far as 2030.
- DeWine, who helped write Ohio's modern death penalty law as a state legislator, came out against capital punishment in June and believes it does not deter crime.
- He has said he doesn't expect another execution during his term, which ends in January 2027.
What they're saying: The candidates hoping to succeed DeWine have taken different approaches.
- Republican Vivek Ramaswamy supports the death penalty "only in the most egregious cases."
- Democrat Amy Acton hasn't taken a firm position, saying she'd respect Ohio's current pause and "take a hard look" at the issue.
Flashback: Ohio has its own history of troubled lethal injections.
- Officials halted Romell Broom's 2009 execution after more than two hours of failed attempts to establish an IV.
- Dennis McGuire's 2014 execution lasted about 25 minutes as he gasped and snorted. Two earlier executions also encountered serious IV problems.
What's next: Whether Ohio resumes executions could largely depend on the state's next governor — unless lawmakers abolish capital punishment or establish another execution method.