Husted Expected to Fill Ohio Senate Seat

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is expected to appoint Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to multiple sources. The announcement, anticipated at a Friday press conference, follows extensive speculation about candidates, including former state GOP chair Jane Timken and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Husted emerged as a frontrunner due to his close working relationship with DeWine and is seen as maintaining a Republican edge in future elections. Vance's resignation from the Senate was necessary for his role as vice president alongside President-elect Donald Trump. The appointee must run in a special election in November 2026 to complete the term ending in 2028. Husted's potential gubernatorial ambitions in 2026 add a strategic dimension to the appointment.