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One of the leading candidates to fill Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat recently traveled to President-elect Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence as the state’s governor’s decision nears.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine traveled to Trump’s Florida home with fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who is believed to be a leading candidate to replace Vance, in recent days, although details of any conversations are unclear, News 5 Cleveland first reported. , and Fox News Digital has confirmed it.
State law dictates that DeWine will select a Republican to fill Vance’s place in the Senate until a special election is held in November 2026 to determine who will serve the remainder of Vance’s term, which ends in 2028. The winner of that election special could then apply. again in 2028 to begin a new six-year term.
Multiple sources told Fox News Digital that a final decision on the Senate appointment is expected in the coming weeks, as the new Congress will be sworn in on January 3.
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to name Senate replacement for Vice President-elect JD Vance (Getty Images)
DeWine’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The governor’s spokesman, Dan Tierney, told Fox News Digital last month that DeWine will look for a “workhorse” who is “qualified and ready to earn the trust of Ohio voters for another term.”
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Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted speaks during the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2024. (Getty Images)
Fox News Digital previously reported that DeWine is considering, along with Husted, several Senate candidates, including attorney Mehek Cooke, Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken, Rep. Mike Carey and others.
“Governor DeWine has a crucial decision ahead of him in selecting Ohio’s next senator,” Cooke told Fox News Digital on Friday night. “If Jon is the workhorse you choose, it’s the right choice.”
“He is battle-tested, with decades of experience fighting for Ohioans and ensuring a stronger future for our state. If Jon is the choice, I support him 100%; the stakes are high and we need someone to put Ohio First, it was an honor to meet with the Governor and he knows that my commitment is to always put the interests of Ohio first.”
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The endorsement of Trump and Vance will be critical to any DeWine appointment, given that both are popular in the Buckeye State, where their candidacy won by 11 points in November.
Husted, who is believed to be the only Senate candidate to travel to Trump’s home, has served as Ohio’s lieutenant governor since 2019 after serving eight years as Secretary of State and before that, a member of the state Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives.
Husted was widely expected to run for governor to replace DeWine, and his team has recently taken steps to allocate resources to that race. Sources told Fox News Digital that former presidential candidate Vivek Ramawamy’s interest in running for governor has caused some potential gubernatorial candidates to reevaluate their options, given Ramaswamy’s deep pockets.
Husted has remained quiet about the potential Senate appointment, other than to say: “I will continue to serve this state as long as the people of Ohio accept me. As for the future, I intend to make my plans known early next year. “
Fox News Digital reached out to Trump’s transition team for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
