Senate Ohio

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Friday that Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.

Governor DeWine’s decision concludes a period of intense competition among Ohio Republicans for the Senate position, which Vance held for less than two years before his resignation on January 10th. Appointing Husted removes a significant contender from the 2026 gubernatorial race, although DeWine anticipates a competitive field.

DeWine emphasized Husted’s extensive government experience, a contrast to Vance and Bernie Moreno, who lacked such experience when elected.

The 57-year-old Husted, a former Ohio House speaker, state senator, and two-term secretary of state, has served as lieutenant governor since 2019. His Senate term will last until December 15, 2026. A special election will be held in November 2026 to fill the remaining two years of Vance’s term.

DeWine praised Husted as a trusted collaborator, highlighting his knowledge of Ohio, character, skills, and suitability for the Senate.

Husted, known for bipartisanship during his time leading the Ohio House, pledged to seek common ground in Washington while fully supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, including his Cabinet nominees.

Husted, visibly emotional during the announcement, expressed gratitude for his two decades of state government service and described the Senate appointment as an incredible opportunity.

DeWine, a former U.S. senator, called the Senate seat one of the most prestigious positions in politics, second only to the presidency or governorship. Husted stated that he hadn’t considered replacing Vance when he spoke at the Republican National Convention this summer. This marks the third time in recent years that an Ohio Senate seat has become available.

DeWine received numerous applications, including from previous election candidates, statewide officeholders, and individuals outside of government.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and co-leader of Trump’s government efficiency initiative, recently expressed interest in the Senate seat to DeWine.

DeWine ultimately chose Husted, citing his deep understanding of Ohio’s diverse geography and his expertise in federal-state government interactions. DeWine made two visits to Mar-a-Lago before making his decision. Both DeWine and Husted reported speaking with Trump, who expressed positive sentiments.

Any expectation that choosing Husted would alleviate a Republican contest for the governorship in 2026 (with Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost as potential candidates) was quickly replaced by behind-the-scenes maneuvering. This includes Ramaswamy, who may soon announce his candidacy, and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, who filed paperwork on Friday to run for governor.

Husted was considered a leading gubernatorial contender due to fundraising and campaign organization efforts. Yost previously indicated that he would decline a Senate appointment.

The November 2026 special election might offer a return opportunity for former Senator Sherrod Brown, who lost to Moreno in November. Brown hinted at future political involvement in his December 17th Senate farewell speech.

While Brown’s gubernatorial candidacy was considered, he appears to support Amy Acton’s gubernatorial bid, launched earlier this month.

DeWine prioritized selecting a Republican Senate candidate well-positioned to defeat any Democratic opponent in 2026 and the subsequent 2028 Senate election.

Husted believes he’s prepared for this, citing his successful campaigns for secretary of state and lieutenant governor. His statewide candidacy strength was a key factor in DeWine’s decision to include him on the 2018 ticket, merging their gubernatorial campaigns.

DeWine described the back-to-back elections as demanding. Last year’s Brown-Moreno Senate race was the nation’s most expensive, exceeding $400 million in campaign and outside group spending.

Democrats indicated that Husted will face challenges. State Chair Elizabeth Walters hinted that Husted’s alleged links to a major state corruption scheme will become a campaign issue, though he hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing. Walters stated that Democrats will work to hold Husted accountable and contest the Senate seat.