Will selecting Vance’s U.S. Senate successor be a quarrelsome affair?
As Ohio Republicans celebrate Sen. JD Vance’s ascension to the vice presidency, they now face one of their most challenging tasks: who will succeed him in the Senate?
The choice is crucial, given the new GOP majority in the U.S. Senate. Fortunately, Republicans hold the state legislature and the governor’s office. Many Ohio Republicans, however, have questions and concerns about Gov. Mike DeWine.
Speculation surrounding Vance’s replacement has resulted in several notable contenders for Ohio’s Senate seat. The major names at the moment include former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, state Sen. Matt Dolan, former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken, and Ohio Lt. Gov. John Husted.
Ramaswamy is considered a strong choice by Ohio conservatives and has expressed interest in possibly taking the role. “To be frank, I would strongly consider it if I were asked to serve,” Ramaswamy told NBC. “I have not discussed this with Governor DeWine, but, you know, I look forward to evaluating what the future holds in store. I would strongly consider it if asked.”
Though Ramaswamy has expressed willingness to serve as Ohio’s senator, he has also expressed interest in running for Ohio governor when DeWine’s term ends in 2026, which may dissuade him from accepting the position.
LaRose is also being considered for Vance’s replacement. He has made a name for himself with his focus on election integrity in the state, as well as for initiatives that help grow the number of new businesses in the state.
LaRose made a bid for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s seat this year but came in third to Bernie Moreno in the Republican primary — who successfully ousted Brown. Despite his achievements, LaRose has faced scrutiny for previous statements he made about President-elect Donald Trump, including calling him a “racist,” and for his support of former Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s presidential bid in 2016.
Dolan and Timken have also been touted among the list of potential candidates. Unlike the other options, Dolan and Timken are not as well-known nationally but are active at the state level. Both Dolan and Timken are vocal Never Trumpers.
Dolan has spoken out against Trump, especially after the 2020 election, saying that Trump was “perpetuat[ing] lies about the outcome” of the election and calling Trump’s handling of Jan. 6 a “failure of leadership.”
Timken also expressed opposition to Trump, stating emphatically after Jan. 6, “I am done with Trump.” In her 2022 campaign for Vance’s Senate seat, however, Timken made an effort to portray herself as pro-Trump.
Finally, there is Husted, who has been referred to as a “formidable Republican candidate statewide” due to his work in the state — particularly his focus on improving the state’s economy. Similar to Ramaswamy, Husted has also expressed interest in running for Ohio governor in 2026 — he has already received an early endorsement from his colleague DeWine.
Though there are many contenders for Vance’s coveted seat, the ultimate decision resides with DeWine. The governor has said that he would prefer “someone who really will focus on the state of Ohio, will focus on national issues, someone who will really work hard, someone who wants to get things done.”
Though DeWine made clear the qualities he’s looking for, he also expressed concerns about the individual’s ability to hold the seat moving forward: “These are qualifications I think that are very important, but it also has to be someone who can win a primary. Someone who can win a general election and then two years later, do all that again.”
DeWine’s sentiment is reasonable, but what has Ohio conservatives concerned is DeWine himself. Many of them feel he is not dependable. Though DeWine has appeared willing to work with Trump, he was openly critical during the 2024 presidential campaign, notably over Trump’s remarks regarding Haitian refugees in Springfield, Ohio.
Also, DeWine’s last-minute endorsement of Never Trumper Matt Dolan in the 2024 Republican Senate primary has led Ohio conservatives to believe that DeWine’s choice could spell trouble and split Republicans.
Though Ohio has become a Republican stronghold, voting for Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris by 11 percent, DeWine’s flirtation with Never Trumpers, combined with internal divisions within the Ohio Republican Party, has made the situation much more contentious.
Sensing blood in the water, Ohio Democrats are beginning to seek out candidates for the prized Senate seat. With a special election on the horizon in 2026, speculation is that Democrats might recruit a very familiar face, current U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. Though Brown lost to Bernie Moreno by 3.8 percent, some believe that Brown may attempt to regain his position in a couple of years.
While there is still time, the question of who will succeed Vance in Ohio will no doubt be a quarrelsome affair. Whoever replaces him in the Senate will affect Republicans’ legislative prerogatives for the next few years.
Originally published in the November 12 issue of The American Spectator. Reproduced with permission from author Hunter Oswald who is a Convention of States volunteer. https://spectator.org/the-battle-for-jd-vances-replacement/
