One of the leading candidates to fill the newly elected Vice President position J.D. VanceOhio’s Senate seat recently traveled to President-elect Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence as a decision from the state’s governor draws closer.
Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine traveled to Trump’s Florida home in recent days with fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who is believed to be a top candidate to replace Vance, though the details of any conversation are unclear, News 5 Cleveland reported for the first and Fox News Digital has confirmed.
State law requires DeWine to select a Republican to take Vance’s spot in the Senate until a special election is held in November 2026 to determine who will fill the remainder of Vance’s term, which ends in 2028. The winner of that special election could then run for office. again in 2028 to begin a new six-year term.
Multiple sources told Fox News Digital that a final decision on the Senate nomination is expected in the coming weeks as the new Congress is set to be sworn in on January 3.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will appoint Vice President-elect JD Vance’s replacement to the Senate (Getty Images)
DeWine’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Governor’s spokesman Dan Tierney told Fox News Digital last month that DeWine will look for a “workhorse” who is “qualified and ready to earn the trust of Ohio voters for another term.”
VANCE LIKELY TO BECOME LEADERSHIP IN 2028, BUT RNC CHAIR ‘EXCITED ABOUT THE BENCH WE HAVE’
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024. (Getty Images)
Fox News digital previously reported that DeWine, along with Husted, are considering several Senate candidates, including attorney Mehek Cooke, Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former Ohio GOP Chairman Jane Timken, Rep. Mike Carey and others.
“Governor DeWine has a critical decision ahead of him as he selects Ohio’s next senator,” Cooke told Fox News Digital on Friday evening. “If Jon is the workhorse he chooses, he is the right choice.”
“He is battle-tested, with decades of experience fighting for Ohioans and securing a stronger future for our state. If Jon is the choice, I’m 100% behind him – there’s too much at stake, and we need someone to put Ohio on the line. It was an honor to interview the governor, and he knows it is my duty to always put Ohio’s interests first.”
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An endorsement from Trump and Vance will be critical to any DeWine nomination as both are popular in the Buckeye State, where their ticket won by 11 points in November.
Husted, who is believed to be the only Senate candidate heading to Trump’s House, has been Ohio’s lieutenant governor since 2019 after eight years as secretary of state and before that a member of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Ohio Representatives.
Husted is widely expected to run for governor to replace DeWine, and his team recently took steps to allocate resources to that race. Sources tell Fox News Digital that former presidential candidate Vivek Ramwamy’s The interest in running for governor has led some potential gubernatorial candidates to reevaluate their options, given Ramaswamy’s deep pockets.
Husted has remained tight-lipped about the potential Senate nomination, other than saying, “I will continue to serve this state as long as the people of Ohio will have me.” Looking ahead, I plan to announce my plans early next year. “
Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump transition team for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
