The election of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as vice president-elect will create a vacancy in the Buckeye State's Senate seat, and the state's Republican governor will select his successor from a growing list of options. Become.
Under state law, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is a Republican who will succeed Vance in the Senate until a special election is held in November 2026 to determine who will serve the remainder of Vance's term, which ends in 2028. is to be selected. The winner of the special election will then need to run again in 2028 to begin a new six-year term.
“If Donald Trump is elected, we're going to start the process of looking at people and talking to people,” DeWine said last week. “Some people have already contacted us. We have already met some people upon request.”
Mr. DeWine, who is widely seen as a member of the establishment wing of the Republican Party, is likely to face pressure from Trump supporters to appoint a candidate aligned with Mr. Trump's policies, while party moderates are more He is likely to endorse a bipartisan candidate.
Here's how Vice President-elect J.D. Vance's Senate seat will be filled
Sen. J.D. Vance's seat will be decided by Ohio's Republican governor, Mike DeWine. (AP/Alex Brandon)
President-elect Donald Trump's global list of potential successors includes former presidential candidate and Ohio native Vivek Ramaswamy. floated before Interest in the position.
“Donald Trump has cultivated a coalition of outsiders and independent thinkers who will transform the federal government and revitalize our states and country,” Ramaswamy told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. “The best way to determine who influences change and how is not going to be revealed in the press.”
State Sen. Matt Dolan, an ally of Governor DeWine who is running in the primary against Bernie Moreno, has also been proposed to fill the seat.
J.D. Vance vows to 'never stop fighting' for Americans after election victory
Vivek Ramaswamy gestures on stage during the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
Mr. Dolan, whose family owns Major League Baseball's Cleveland Guardians, has served in the Ohio State Senate since 2017 and previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives for five years.
Jane Timken, an Ohio attorney who served as the Ohio Republican Party chair from 2017 to 2021, is also a potential candidate to replace Vance.
“Ohio is proving to the people the strength and quality of our leaders,” Mehek Cook, an Ohio attorney and political commentator, told FOX News Digital.
“Governor DeWine has a historic opportunity to make lasting change by appointing a highly capable woman, Jane Timken, who will not only elevate our state, but will consistently fight for our people. As Ohio's first female Republican chair, she has demonstrated unwavering leadership, resilience and strength, and has never compromised her values in the process.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine speaks during a campaign stop at the Mandalay Event Center on November 4, 2022 in Moraine, Ohio. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Other possibilities include Republican Ohio Gov. Frank LaRose, who ran in the primary against Moreno, and the state's Republican attorney general, Dave Yost.
LaRose told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, “I'm always ready for duty, but right now I'm focused on doing the job the people of Ohio hired me to do.” spoke. “We will once again deliver safe, accurate, and accessible elections to Ohio voters, and that work continues. We must certify the results on an expedited schedule in time for next month's Electoral College meeting. .”
“We are still working with the Board of Elections to process absentee ballots and allow voters to correct their provisional ballots. There may be a recount in one of the House District races. We also have no intention of relaxing the pressure on the Biden administration to ensure the accuracy of Ohio's voter rolls, knowing that Governor DeWine will have to make important decisions. I am confident that he will do what is in the best interest of the state of Ohio.”
Ohio Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is also believed to be a candidate. A person familiar with Ohio politics told Fox News Digital that Husted is the toughest Republican candidate statewide after settling key issues and is focused on the gubernatorial race, but he is not being sought after. He has said publicly that he wants to remain in public service for as long as he can.
Yost, who WCMH-TV reported In an interview with Fox News Digital this summer, Husted said he believed it would be a “great choice.”
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted (right) speaks next to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine during a press conference on June 2, 2022 in Avon Lake, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
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Two Republicans currently serving in Congress, Rep. Mike Carey and Rep. Warren Davidson, are also thought to be options.
Mr. Carey, who has strong ties to both Mr. Trump and Mr. DeWine, contacted Mr. DeWine shortly after Mr. Vance was selected, a person familiar with the discussions said this summer.
“We are honored to have Congressman Carey appointed to this position, but his focus is first and foremost on serving the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District,” said Teresa Blade, director of communications for Carey on FOX News Digital. told.
DeWine press secretary Dan Tierney told Fox News Digital that the timing of the governor's announcement depends on whether Vance formally vacates his Senate seat, and that the governor will appoint “key people.” he said.
Tierney said DeWine will seek someone “qualified and ready to earn the trust of Ohio voters for another term.”
Tierney pointed to the fact that DeWine himself served in the Senate for 12 years, and said the appointee will be prepared to do the “hard work” of pushing legislation and “reaching across the aisle.” He said he hopes that will be the case.
Fox News Digital's Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
