Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is set to appoint Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to the vacant Senate seat left by JD Vance. Sources reveal the announcement is scheduled for a Friday news conference.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is poised to appoint his Lieutenant Governor, Jon Husted , to fill the vacant Senate seat left by Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to two sources familiar with the decision. These sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters, indicated that the announcement is expected at a 1 p.m. Friday news conference convened by Governor DeWine at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
A spokesperson for Governor DeWine declined to comment on the news conference's agenda, while a spokesperson for Husted did not respond to a request for comment. Husted, who would serve at least through a 2026 special election to complete the remaining two years of Vance's term, has emerged as a leading contender. Governor DeWine previously stated that appointing someone capable of winning a competitive Republican primary next year was a primary consideration. The decision follows Vance's resignation and a meeting last month between Governor DeWine and Husted with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Sources briefed on the meeting told NBC News that Husted's interest in succeeding DeWine as governor in 2026 and the possibility of Trump's endorsement were discussed. However, Trump made no commitments to Husted regarding either the gubernatorial race or the Senate vacancy, according to these sources.The impending Husted appointment follows a late push from biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a close Trump ally residing in the Columbus area. Ramaswamy had withdrawn from consideration for the position last fall after agreeing to lead the new Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. However, he recently signaled a change of heart and met with Governor DeWine regarding the appointment. Other individuals in the running to succeed Vance included former state GOP chair Jane Timken, state Treasurer Robert Sprague, Rep. Mike Carey, and former state Rep. Jay Edwards. Signal Ohio first reported that Governor DeWine had chosen Husted. Trump's political influence in Ohio, where he has secured three consecutive victories with substantial margins, is significant. He and Governor DeWine found themselves on opposing sides during last year's GOP primary for the state's other Senate seat, a contest where DeWine supported a state lawmaker widely disliked by many within Trump's circle, while Trump endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno. Moreno easily won the primary and went on to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has not ruled out running in next year's special election for Vance's former seat.
OHIO SENATE JON HUSTED MIKE DEWINE JD VANCE DONALD TRUMP REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
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