Still no Ohio Senate announcement, another name rumored

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Sources say a new frontrunner has emerged for Ohio’s open Senate seat, which should be announced sometime this week. 

Sources said Ohio businessman and co-chairman of the Department of Government Efficiency Vivek Ramaswamy has emerged as a possible frontrunner for the appointment.

Ramaswamy removed himself from consideration  back in November, but now things may change. The Washington Post reports that President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging Ramaswamy to take the seat. 

Two days after November’s election, Ramaswamy said he wants to “have the biggest possible impact on this country,” using his skills, and about the open U.S. Senate seat, he said it was a discussion. 

“Trump's decisive victory on Tuesday opens up a lot of possibilities to change the country,” he said on Nov. 7. “We're obviously having discussions.” 

Ramaswamy, at the time, said he cares “immensely” about Ohio and the future of the state, adding his family has no plans to move. 

“We’re rooted,” he said. “I was born and raised in the state. We want to raise our kids here for a reason.”

That same day, Gov. Mike DeWine, who is charged with making the appointment, said he was not going to give anything up about who he is considering or not considering. 

“I’m not going to go through names, I’m just not going to do it,” DeWine said on Nov. 7.   

And still, two months later, DeWine has stayed mum about who he is going to send to Washington to fill Vice-President-elect J.D. Vance’s seat. The most DeWine has said on the matter are details like what kind of person he is looking for, and the fact that dozens of people are interested. 

“We have great people in the state of Ohio who could serve very well in the United States Senate,” DeWine said.  

DeWine wants to name someone to the post who he is confident can win a statewide election and retain the seat in 2026, then run again in 2028 for a full six-year term. DeWine said he would not rule anyone out, even if they have no experience as an elected official, like Ramaswamy. 

“I don't think we should start saying that there's only one background to be a United States Senator,” DeWine said. 

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, on the other hand, has an extensive political background and is considered a frontrunner by some. He said last week that he is “considering” all his options but did not specify whether he is even interested in being sent to the U.S. Senate.  

How does this play into the 2026 governor’s race in Ohio?  When Husted became DeWine’s lieutenant governor, DeWine vowed to put his support behind Husted come 2026. DeWine is still supporting a possible Husted-for-governor run and has said recently that he thinks Husted will make a great governor. Ramaswamy has also been rumored to be eyeing a 2026 governor’s bid. 

Now the big question is who will Trump support? Trump’s endorsement has proven important in Ohio.  He endorsed both Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) in the three-way Republican primary in 2024, which helped get him the win, as well as endorsing Vance during his run for U.S. Senate in 2022, also helping secure his win. 

Ramaswamy is close with Trump, so the question is whether Ramaswamy gets the endorsement over Husted to push him over the edge in a Republican primary for governor.

DeWine said a pending Trump endorsement in that race is not a consideration for his Senate pick. 

“That’s not a factor,” DeWine said. “We’re not waiting for anything at this point.”    

Several other names rumored to be on DeWine’s short-list and can be found here. An announcement is expected sometime this week. Vance is set to be sworn in as vice-president on Monday.