Ohio’s Jon Husted named as Vance’s Senate replacement

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is sending his lieutenant governor to Washington. Jon Husted, 57, will represent the state in the U.S. Senate until December 2026, filling the seat vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. In announcing the decision, DeWine emphasized that Ohio is a complex state with vast sweeps of farmland contrasting with metropolitan areas. He interviewed numerous people in the search for the right candidate, who should be a workhorse who understands the state, DeWine said.

“I believe and know that Jon is ready to be a United States senator,” DeWine said. “He’ll be right at home on day one.”

Husted spoke briefly about his priorities as a future lawmaker. He paused and seemed to tear up as he described his passion for protecting foster children, as someone who was adopted as a child.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also was considered as a candidate for the seat. Although Ramaswamy said he was not interested in the job, he met with DeWine just a few days before the appointment.

How it works: Vice President-elect J.D. Vance resigned his seat in the U.S. Senate effective midnight last Friday. Husted will fill the seat until a special election in November 2026. The winner of that election will then complete the final two years of Vance’s term, which ends in January 2029. Vance was not required to resign until the day before the presidential inauguration, scheduled for Jan. 20. His early absence temporarily dropped the Republican majority in the Senate down to 51 votes.

Who is Husted? The current lieutenant governor is considered to be a protege of DeWine. He ran for governor in the 2018 election but then dropped out to become DeWine’s running mate instead. But it is understood in the state that his gubernatorial ambitions never left. He was expected to run for governor in 2026 to replace DeWine, who will reach the end of his term limit. Husted enjoyed a more active role than is typical for lieutenant governors. Husted led the InnovateOhio program to modernize the state government and boost economic development. He was also elected secretary of state in 2010 and served until 2019. During that period, he cut his office’s budget by $14.5 million and pushed voting reforms that he said made the process more secure in the state.

What does it mean for Ohio politics? The state has been trending more Republican in recent election cycles. But Husted was expected to be the party favorite for the next governor. His exit now leaves the field open for a crowded primary. Ramaswamy has said he is interested in serving the state in some elected capacity.

In the Senate, members joked about the unusual circumstances for the Ohio delegation. Last Friday, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., posted on X, “Congrats to @berniemoreno on becoming Ohio’s senior senator after just one week on the job.”

“The governor and I have discussed this many times. We agreed on the set of criteria,” Sen. Bernie Moreno told WORLD before DeWine’s announcement. “It’s going to be somebody who's completely committed to the agenda. That’s what's most important to me.”