COLUMBUS (AP) — Republican Mike DeWine has started his first day as Ohio governor by signing six executive orders ahead of his Statehouse inauguration ceremony Monday afternoon.

With his hand on a stack of family Bibles, the former U.S. senator was sworn in as Ohio’s 70th governor just after midnight in Cedarville.

He then signed an order banning discrimination in state personnel decisions on the basis of gender identity, pregnancy or being a foster parent, among other categories.

Other orders focused on children’s services and substance abuse recovery initiatives and inclusivity of individuals with disabilities in state hiring.

DeWine defeated Democrat Richard Cordray in November to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. John Kasich.

The 72-year-old DeWine is among Ohio’s most well-known politicians after decades in elected office, most recently as Ohio’s attorney general.