COLUMBUS, Ohio — Governor Mike DeWine has chosen Lt. Governor Jon Husted to fill an Ohio Senate seat vacated by incoming Vice President JD Vance.
The 57-year-old Husted, a former Ohio House speaker and two-term Ohio secretary of state, will serve until Dec. 15, 2026. A special election for the last two years of Vance’s six-year term will be held in November 2026.
DeWine formally made the announcement during a Friday afternoon press conference.
"As I was looking for the right person, I wanted someone who knew Ohio," said DeWine. "It takes awhile, candidly, to get to know this state."
He said although a quick drive through Ohio may lead someone to believe it's all farmland, the state is filled with metropolitan areas and diverse populations.
DeWine said he wanted to choose a workhorse who would understand the interactions between federal governments and state governments, while focusing on Ohio and the obligations a senator has for the nation.
"When you walk in the United States Senate, whether you're the most junior or the most senior, you can make a difference," said DeWine. "And you can make a difference whether you're in the minority party or if you're in the majority party."
DeWine acknowledged that he took his time in announcing his pick, but said that's because the importance of the appointment was never lost on him.
"Serious times demand serious people," said DeWine.
Husted said his focuses on the Senate role won't differ significantly from the topics he's focused on as Lt. Governor of Ohio under DeWine. Specifically, he said he wants to impact how new and emerging technologies have played a part in the lives of Ohioans and Americans.
"In the end, this was easy," said Husted of the decision to accept the appointment. "It's a decision about service for me and my family and where we can have the most impact, and there's no doubt the U.S. Senate is where you can have an impact for every man, woman and child in America."
Who would fill Vance's spot in the Senate has been a question on Ohioans minds since the November election. However, DeWine said he wouldn't move to make a decision on Vance's replacement until after Vance resigned from the role — which happened officially on January 10.
Husted has been the front-runner for the Senate seat, but recently another possible candidate began expressing renewed interest in it. Cincinnati native Vivek Ramaswamy stepped into the conversation in January, after he'd declined the role in favor of heading up President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency efforts alongside Elon Musk.
A spokesperson for Ramaswamy told us that, while Ramaswamy has said since April that his long-term goal is to be governor, he was "warming up to the idea" of the Senate seat. Ultimately, though, the decision was up to DeWine, the spokesperson said.
DeWine remained quiet on the topic, refusing to comment on any speculation as to who he planned to choose.
Still, in December, he and Husted both visited Mar-a-Lago to meet with President Trump and Vance ahead of the governor making an appointment to the U.S. Senate. The visit was auspicious, but neither DeWine nor Husted would speak about what may have been discussed with Trump during that visit.
However, Husted and Ramaswamy have more in common than interest in the Senate seat: They've both eyed the role of governor.
Ramaswamy's team confirmed to WCPO 9 Friday that after some time at the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, he is expected to announce a run for Ohio's governor.
At Friday's press conference, DeWine was asked about what he planned to do now that he has yet another position to fill: the role of Lieutenant Governor.
"I don't know, this one's been hard enough," said DeWine, laughing. "We're going to take the weekend and go to the inaugural and then I'll think about it."
RAW: Watch the entire introductory press conference below:
