DeWine Chooses Unexpected Successor for JD Vance Instead of Expected Favorite

After Vice President-elect JD Vance stepped down from his Senate seat last Friday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) needed to quickly choose a replacement to avoid potential setbacks in passing important legislation, such as the Laken Riley Act. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority since November, delaying the appointment could have negative implications.

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Speculation was rife about DeWine’s choice for the position until he surprised many by selecting his own lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to fill the role until the special election in 2026. Some had expected former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to be chosen, but DeWine went in a different direction.

Governor DeWine proudly announced his decision to appoint @LtGovHusted to the U.S. Senate, taking over the seat vacated by Vice President-elect @JDVance. pic.twitter.com/W5918DDaCz

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 17, 2025

DeWine said of his selection:

“I have worked with him, I have seen him. I know his knowledge of Ohio. I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills,” DeWine said at a Friday news conference from the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. “All of that tells me he is the right person for this job.”

DeWine and Husted reportedly met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month to discuss candidates for both the pending Senate vacancy and the 2026 governor’s race; DeWine is term-limited from running again. Trump, who has butted heads with DeWine in the past, apparently declined to endorse Husted for either job.

Nonetheless, Husted signaled his eagerness to work with the Trump administration:

It is my honor to accept the appointment to serve in the U.S. Senate.

We have worked to Make Ohio Great Again & I look forward to working with @RealDonaldTrump & @JDVance to Make America Great Again! pic.twitter.com/fwIgst3gEm

— Jon Husted (@JonHusted) January 17, 2025

Husted, 57, admitted he thought long and hard before deciding he would accept the position.

It had previously been thought that DeWine would select a woman to replace Vance. 

Sources close to Ohio’s governor eportedly said that “elevating women is important to DeWine and that he would like to appoint a woman to the seat, although gender is not the deciding factor.” 

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Husted, previously thought be a top contender to replace DeWine as governor, will be in the Senate through the 2026 special election. He will then have to run if he wishes to remain a Senator through 2028, which is when Vance’s term ends. 

It is unclear when Husted’s swearing-in will take place.