Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appoints Jon Husted to fill JD Vance's US Senate seat

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has announced that Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will fill Vice President-elect JD Vance’s vacant seat in the U.S. Senate.

The announcement made during DeWine’s Friday press conference comes after Vance resigned from his seat last week.

"I just want to say thank you. It is my honor to accept the appointment to serve the people of Ohio in the U.S. Senate," said Husted. "I just appreciate that you have placed so much trust in me as a running mate, lieutenant governor and now appointee to the senate.”

Husted will serve at least through Dec. 15, 2026, with a special election scheduled for November 2026 to fill the remaining two years of Vance’s term.

Standing next to Husted, DeWine called him a trusted partner on key decisions and noted that his choice for the Senate would have to be determined enough to run statewide over the next several years to keep the seat.

“I have worked with him, I have seen him, I know his knowledge of Ohio,” DeWine said. “I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills. And all of that tells me that he is the right person for this job.”