Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Friday that he is appointing Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to fill Vice President-elect J.D. Vances vacant seat in the Senate.
DeWine made the announcement in Ohio with Husted by his side after months of speculation over who he would pick to send to Washington to serve the rest of Vances term.
Husted, 57, has been his lieutenant governor since 2019 after serving as the states secretary of state from 2011 to 2019. He also served in the state Senate and House including as Ohio house speaker.
DeWine said in searching for the states new senator, he was looking for someone who knew Ohios complexities and understands the interaction between state and federal government.
DeWine said Husted has the background, has the experience to get the job done.
The governor shared that making his decision was a heavy responsibility that he took very seriously having himself served in the U.S. Senate for 12 years.
He also revealed that he interviewed many candidates for the job, but he decided to go with someone who has been close to him for the past six years.
I have worked with him, I have seen him. I know his knowledge of Ohio. I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills, DeWine said.
Ohio GOP Governor Mike DeWine (left) appointed his Lt. Governor Jon Husted (center) to fill the Ohio Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance
Husted along with his wife and children were standing next to DeWine as he made the announcement.
It is my honor to accept the appointment to serve the people of the state of Ohio in the U.S. Senate, Husted said.
He said he is looking forward to President-elect Trump and Vance to make America great again.
Husted specifically mentioned work to fight inflation, illegal immigration and promote conservative values.
I will continue to be an America first conservative who wants to get things done, and knows that public service is a temporary gift that you have to make the most of for the people you represent, Husted said.
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted speaking in Newark, Ohio in January 2022
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance when he won the Ohio Senate race on November 8, 2022
DeWine also touched on Vance being sworn into office as vice president on Monday.
He said the state is very proud of him, proud of an Ohioan serving as vice president and wish him all the best.
Vance resigned from the Senate at midnight on January 10 having served just two years of his first term.
When he ran for the Senate in the 2022 midterms, it was his first bid for public office.
In his announcement, DeWine noted he was picking someone who would have to be constantly running for office, signaling that Husted will run in the special election and for a full term.
An Ohio special election will be held in November 2026 to fill the final two years of Vances first term in the Senate.
Then, Husted will have to run again in 2028 if he wants to serve a full six-year term.
Vivek Ramaswamy will announce a bid for Ohio governor shortly, an operative familiar told DailyMail.com
In his search for Vances replacement, DeWine also met with former GOP presidential candidate and close Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy despite him having ruled himself out of the running to fill the vacancy last year.
Ramaswamy was named by Trump to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help cut government waste in Washington.
However, Ramaswamy already has his sight on a bid for governor of Ohio.
An operative familiar with Ramaswamys thinking told DailyMail.com that he plans to get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a bid for governor shortly.
DeWine is term limited as governor so the race will be wide open in 2026.