COLUMBUS, Ohio — The election of JD Vance to the vice presidency has triggered another open seat in Ohio’s U.S. Senate, marking the third vacancy in as many years and igniting a contest among the state’s Republican leaders for the appointment.
The responsibility now falls on GOP Governor Mike DeWine, who will play a crucial role in determining the direction of his party in Ohio for years ahead. His choice comes on the heels of significant victories for Republicans in November under Donald Trump’s influence, yet a poor selection could offer Democrats an opportunity to regain a foothold in Ohio’s Senate delegation when the seat is up for reelection in less than two years.
“Being a United States senator is crucial for the state, and we must make the right choice,” DeWine emphasized to reporters shortly after the election outcome.
The governor’s list of potential appointees is extensive, especially given the array of GOP contenders who participated in the last Senate primaries in 2022 and 2024. Those vying for consideration include former Ohio Republican Chair Jane Timken; Frank LaRose, the two-term Secretary of State; and state Senator Matt Dolan, whose family is associated with baseball’s Cleveland Guardians. Also under review are two-term Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and Mehek Cooke, a Republican attorney and strategist known for her appearances on Fox News.
Interestingly, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati pharmaceutical entrepreneur and an insider to Vance’s campaign, withdrew his name from the running after accepting a role in the forthcoming Trump administration.
DeWine’s decision to fill the Senate seat not only presents a chance to reshape Ohio Republican leadership—especially as Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost prepare for their own future contest for governor in 2026—but it also poses challenges. Husted is already ramping up his campaign, and Yost has publicly stated he would refuse the Senate position if offered. Additionally, DeWine, who is 77 and already has term limits in place, stated he would not appoint himself to the seat.
Ambitions regarding the Senate post among members of Ohio’s congressional delegation, which includes U.S. Representatives Jim Jordan, Mike Carey, David Joyce, and Warren Davidson, have been muted following the slim majority the GOP gained in the House. Given Ohio’s election laws, filling House vacancies can take a prolonged period, a factor DeWine is likely weighing as Trump aims to advance early policy goals within Congress.
According to state regulations, the appointee will serve from the time Vance officially resigns—an announcement that has yet to be made—until December 15, 2026, after which a special election will be held in November 2026 to serve the final two years of the six-year term.
This special election could yield a comeback opportunity for Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who was recently defeated by Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno. While he has not divulged specifics, Brown suggested last week that he intends to remain politically active. Former U.S. Representative Tim Ryan, who lost to Vance in 2022, could also consider another candidacy. Furthermore, Allison Russo, the Democratic leader in the Ohio House, has been suggested as a potential Senate candidate for 2026.
DeWine has expressed the importance of selecting a Republican appointee capable of effectively opposing Democratic challengers in 2026, emphasizing the need for strong candidates who have proven capabilities as fundraisers and statewide contenders, especially with Ohio’s statewide elections also scheduled for that year. A robust incumbent senator could be an asset in aiding the party’s return to positions of governor, attorney general, treasurer, auditor, and secretary of state.
The demands of this position also weigh heavily. Timken, LaRose, and Dolan have all previously sought Senate seats in the last two cycles, and a victory in 2026 would lead the winner back into the fray just two years later facing Ohio voters again in 2028.
“This isn’t for the faint-hearted,” DeWine admitted.
In his bid for the Senate, Dolan has notably not secured Trump’s backing, despite being a wealthy contender alongside Timken. Dolan’s approach has favored a more moderate Republican stance, distancing himself from Trump’s claims regarding voter fraud in the 2020 election, a position that garnered him DeWine’s endorsement in last year’s primary.
Trump’s endorsement helped elevate Vance in 2022 and Moreno in the recent primary, leading both to electoral victories in a state that has now shifted strongly toward the Republican party.
In the state Legislature, Dolan opposed Ohio’s blocked abortion restriction legislation, in contrast to LaRose and Sprague, who supported such initiatives. Timken, a staunch Trump ally, has a record of advocating for the pro-life agenda and aligning herself closely with Trump’s policies.
Support for Timken has been bolstered by former U.S. Senator Rob Portman, who endorsed her during the 2022 Senate primary, citing her dedication as a conservative candidate.
DeWine’s inclination toward promoting women in his appointments may offer Timken or Cooke an advantage in this ongoing selection process, especially given the gender diversity within his administration.
Although Trump endorsed Vance over Timken in the previous Senate race, he had previously appointed her to lead the Ohio Republican Party after his initial election and has supported her role as the National Committeewoman for Ohio.
While Trump did not endorse LaRose for this year’s Senate campaign, he has lent support to both LaRose and Sprague in their previous statewide office campaigns. Both candidates have successfully secured statewide positions, with LaRose often in the spotlight due to his role overseeing elections in Ohio. Sprague, on the other hand, has maintained a relatively controversy-free tenure.
DeWine emphasized the qualities he seeks in his appointee, advocating for someone who can tackle both state and national issues diligently and indicating that political extremism is not desirable in his selection.
“The chosen individual must win the primary, succeed in the general election, and be prepared to face the electorate again in two years,” he concluded.