Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is emerging as the top contender to replace Vice President-elect JD Vance in the US Senate, as per two Republican sources familiar with the situation. The decision to appoint Vance's replacement rests with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who must make the appointment before Vance and President-elect Donald Trump assume office on January 20.
While Husted has long harbored ambitions for the Ohio governorship, it remains uncertain whether he would accept the Senate appointment. Husted previously ran for governor in 2018 but withdrew from the race to become DeWine's running mate.
Recently, DeWine and Husted met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, although the extent to which the Senate appointment was discussed during the meeting remains unclear. The potential appointment of Husted as the frontrunner for the Senate seat was first reported by various news outlets.
If appointed, the individual chosen by DeWine would serve in the Senate until 2026 and then participate in a special election to complete the final two years of Vance's term. Subsequently, they would need to run again in 2028 for a full six-year term. DeWine's decision on the Senate appointment could have broader implications, potentially impacting the 2026 gubernatorial race in Ohio, which is already expected to attract a competitive field of GOP candidates.
