Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, left, and Gov. Mike DeWine, both Republicans, listen to remarks by the new co-chairs of the commission leading Ohio's commemoration of the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026, at the Ohio Statehouse, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. O'Connor has been the swing vote on recent court decisions striking down redistricting maps drawn by the Ohio Redistricting Commission, of which DeWine is a member. DeWine joked afterward that he and O'Connor both understand they can't talk about a pending case. (AP Photo/Andrew Welsh-Huggins)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio is another year older with the celebration of its 219th birthday.

The Ohio History Connection planned a commemoration event Tuesday at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, including the introduction of the state commission involved with the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026.

Gov. Mike DeWine introduced that commission’s co-chairs: Doug Preisse, a long-time lobbyist and GOP campaign coordinator, and Michael Coleman, a former four-term Democratic Columbus mayor.

The Statehouse also was providing viewings of the Ohio History Connection film “The Debate Over Statehood.”

Congress approved the Ohio’s first constitution in early 1803 and President Thomas Jefferson signed it on Feb. 19. The newly elected General Assembly conducted business for the first time on March 1, 1803, at the then Statehouse in Chillicothe.

Arthur St. Clair, the first governor of the Northwest Territory, opposed statehood, while Thomas Worthington, the sixth governor of Ohio, was a strong proponent.