OHIO- Governor Mike DeWine is no stranger to power.

He’s served as a U.S. representative and senator for Ohio, lieutenant governor, and most recently, attorney general.

• Mike DeWine's time served as a U.S. Representative and Senator could be a major aid in understanding and working with Legislature
• It will take a working relationship with both sides of the aisle to pass priority policies
• DeWine's opposition to Medicaid expansion as Attorney General may come back to haunt him

“We have two pilot projects…or we did, when I was attorney general,” said DeWine. We had two pilot projects that we had some of the counties help with foster care, and we’re going to expand that to all 88 counties. So, this is going to be a priority in our administration.”

It may be his earlier experiences in public life, not his time as Ohio’s top law man, that will help him be an effective governor.

Even though the promotion comes with more power, there are more people to whom he must now answer.

"The real key I think to his governorship, and the interesting thing to watch, will be his relationship with the state legislature,” said Dr. Paul Beck, OSU political science professor. “Much of what he does cannot be done through executive order. It has to be done through legislation.”

Through legislation and through the legislature—a path his predecessor had trouble following.

“DeWine is going to be a governor who is a policy man. I think he’ll be more inclined to work with the legislature than Kasich,” said Beck.

His time as a senator and representative may prove to be his most important experience, working to be build coalitions to get things done and understanding the role of the legislature.

But what about the issues he took a hard stance on as attorney general?

“He was very active in getting the state in court action to try to really attack Obamacare, to attack the Medicaid expansion that Ohio entered into, things of that sort. He entered into agreements with other attorneys general across a verity of states, all republicans, that may be a legacy of his, though its unclear how those things will pan out,” said Beck.

The fate of that Medicaid expansion, and the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who rely on it is now up in the air.

Only time will tell if his professional evolution will be mirrored by the policy he puts forth.