Sources: DeWine likely to name Vance replacement soon
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio has only one U.S. Senator right now because when JD Vance got elected as vice president, he would resign his Senate seat, which he did last week.
Now, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to name Vance’s replacement any time this week, with insiders saying it could come as soon as Wednesday.
“This is a unique situation,” Republican strategist Matt Dole said.
“It's not just an Ohio decision,” Democratic strategist Morgan Harper said. “It's really more of that national power play within the Republican Party right now.”
Whoever DeWine appoints will have to almost immediately start campaigning for a special election in 2026 to retain the seat, then will have to, presumably, run again in 2028 for a full six-year term.
Dole said while picking someone who has the chops to do that is a factor, there is another big one.
“He also has to pick the right person for him and for President Trump because the person has to, in today's Republican Party in Ohio, has to have Trump support and Mike DeWine isn't going to pick somebody that he doesn't support,” Dole said.
He said that support does not necessarily rule anyone out but may point to people who have previously gotten Trump’s endorsement.
Harper said she thinks this decision will speak to the type of Republican Party Ohio will harbor in the future, whether the choice is more aligned with the Trump-style Republican Party or old-school Republican Party.
Several names have been mentioned as being in the running for the seat, including former chair of the Ohio Republican Party Jane Timken, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former State Representative Jay Edwards, and apparent front-runner for the pick, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.
When asked if he was interested in the post, Husted said, “We’re considering all of the options and, you know, just it’s really all I have to say.”
Insiders said it is Husted’s postion to turn down.
Harper said no matter who gets the seat, she does not think her party should focus on trying to flip it.
“I think Democrats in Ohio, we are in a very tough spot and it's going to be challenging no matter who gets this seat to try to flip it,” she said. “I think we really need to be focusing, you know, maybe even less so on this specific seat versus just doing what's necessary regarding building up our infrastructure to overall be competitive in Ohio and really connecting with people, voters on the ground to make sure that we're being responsive to what they're looking for.”
As far as timing of the announcment, both Dole and Harper said whoever DeWine sends to Washington is not missing too much right now.
“The vacancy opened up three days ago so I think everybody just needs to calm down,” Dole said. “We're three days into a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. There will be somebody there to vote on behalf of Ohio and participate as quickly as Mike DeWine and others think necessary.”
“They're going to have to just hit the ground running,” Harper said. “But again, because there's so much uncertainty right now, I would say generally in Washington, this person is not going to be very influential because they're going to be a junior member of the U.S. Senate. I don't know if it matters too much.”
The governor’s office did not give an exact date for when the announcement will come but emphasized that it will likely be this week.