Milwaukee, Wisconsin – The day after Donald Trump announced that Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance would be his running mate, the Ohio Republican Party, in conversation with The Daily Caller, has begun considering who could replace Trump in the Senate.
Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will choose his successor, depending on whether Trump wins the November race against Vance. After the announcement, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswami told the Caller he would “strongly consider” the seat if it were offered to him. Reports Shown Governor DeWine is reportedly leaning toward choosing State Sen. Matt Dolan, who lost to Bernie Moreno in the primary for Ohio’s other Senate seat earlier this year. His name has been mentioned as a possible candidate in various reports, and state Republicans who spoke to the Daily Caller named several of their own.
“Oh, he’d be great,” Debbie Lang, Ohio Republican Party central committee member, told the Caller about Ramaswami. “He’s great. He’s a staunch supporter of President Trump. He can articulate our conservative values. He’s great. He’s our future. He’s young, he’s bright. So he’s a good guy.”
State Sen. Sandy O’Brien also voiced his support for Ramaswami in a conversation with The Caller.
Ramaswamy was once considered a contender to be Trump’s running mate, but Reports He announced his resignation in March, and since then there has been talk about whether the rising Republican star would run for a position in a second Trump administration, and now a Senate seat may be on the table.
“I would seriously consider the role if I were asked to serve,” Ramaswami told the Caller on Monday. But he stressed that he would first consult with Trump to determine what the best path forward for the country is. He also praised Vance for choosing him as his running mate, calling him “one of the best fighters” in the Senate.
J.D. Vance’s Senate seat Vivek Gramaswamy?
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) July 15, 2024
Of course, the seat would only need to be filled if Trump and Vance win the election, and any serious consideration is at least another four months away, after which DeWine would appoint an interim replacement before a special election is held in November 2026. Laws and RegulationsDeWine has the right to appoint “any qualified person with the requisite qualifications to serve in the Senate.” according to To the New York Times.
DeWine and the former president were at odds recently after they endorsed different candidates in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary. approved Moreno later won, but DeWine endorsed Dolan, whom the former president called a “RINO.” Days before the March election, DeWine refused to endorse Trump, saying he was focused on local races.
Ohio Delegate Mike Gondak told the Caller that anyone running should consider the workload and whether it’s something they can do. Gondak has recommended several candidates for the post, including former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022, losing to Vance and several other candidates in the primary. Gondak also named Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
Joe Biden and Sherrod Brown have destroyed our borders, destroyed our economy, and destroyed our standing in the world. In November, we will fire them both. pic.twitter.com/DVUzqnv5Aq
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) July 17, 2024
“Jane Timken would be great. Vivek has put his hand up, too, and he’d be great if he’s interested. There are a lot of officeholders across the state whose terms are expiring soon. It’s a great opportunity for the governor to make his mark in the next two years,” Gondak told the Caller.
While some are eager to know who will replace Vance, other Ohio Republicans told the Caller it’s premature to speculate. They say the focus should instead be on Trump winning with Moreno facing off against Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Moreno worked closely with Trump during the campaign, which led to his endorsement in the primary. Moreno has also been endorsed by other Trump allies, including Vance and Donald Trump Jr.
“Every minute that’s spent talking about anything other than the November election is an advantage for Joe Biden, who can barely finish a sentence. It’s an advantage for Kamala Harris, because no one knows how incompetent she is. It’s an advantage for Sherrod Brown, because he’s not talking about what a radical liberal he is in Washington,” Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted told the Caller.
DeWine was asked directly about who he would appoint to the position, but he similarly deferred the question.
“First we have to win,” the governor said. Said Fox News Digital.
Henry Rogers contributed to this report.
