Tag Archives: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted

Ohio Gov. DeWine Soon to Announce New Senator to Replace J.D. Vance

By Jim Ellis — Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

Senate

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R)

At a news conference at the end of last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) indicated that he will “probably” name a replacement for resigned Sen. J.D. Vance (R) this week. Vance, elected Vice President, resigned on Jan. 10 to prepare for his Inauguration.

There has been much speculation around who Gov. DeWine will choose, and he and his staff members have been tight-lipped throughout the process. Local media reports suggest that Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) is the favorite for the appointment, but he has, heretofore, indicated an unwillingness to accept, saying rather that he wants to stay in Ohio to compete in the open 2026 Governor’s race. DeWine is ineligible to seek a third term under the state’s term limits law.

Late last week, however, Lt. Gov. Husted seemed more open to a Senate appointment, saying “we’re considering all of the options,” when asked if he was interested in replacing Sen. Vance.

Whoever the Governor appoints will have to run in a special election to serve the balance of the term in 2026, and then again in 2028 for a full six-year stint when the seat again comes in-cycle. One Democrat waiting in the wings to possibly run again is former three-term Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his seat in November to Sen. Bernie Moreno (R). Brown has broadly hinted that his career in electoral politics has not yet come to a close.

Other names have been bandied about. According to a report from Cleveland’s NewsChannel5.com, the other potential options if Husted decides he wants to remain in the Governor’s race include former Ohio Republican Party chair and ex-US Senate candidate Jane Timken, State Treasurer Robert Sprague, former state Rep. Jay Edwards (R) who was chairman of the House Finance Committee, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and ex-state Sen. Matt Dolan (R). The latter two men were unsuccessful 2024 Senate candidates.

Several Ohio US House members would be considered as potential appointees in a typical year, but not in 2025. With the Republicans having only a current 218-215 majority because of a resignation and a presidential appointment, and another coming when Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations, the scant Republican majority is too small for DeWine and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to appoint Representatives to fill their respective Senate vacancies.

Gov. DeSantis will appoint a replacement for Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio (R-FL) when he resigns from the Senate after his confirmation is secured.

Husted will likely get the appointment if he so desires. Back in 2018 when then-Attorney General DeWine was first running for Governor, Husted, then Secretary of State, and then-Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor were his major Republican primary opponents. When it appeared that DeWine and Husted would split the moderate/centrist Republican vote, possibly meaning that neither would win the primary, Husted offered DeWine a deal.

In his suggested approach, Husted said he would drop down to the Lieutenant Governor’s race and endorse DeWine if Dewine would support him for the secondary position with the two then effectively running as a team. DeWine agreed, and the plan worked.

Though Husted could likely claim the Senate appointment as a political payback if he so chose, the campaign road is not altogether easy. Even with being granted a seat in the Senate, Husted would still have to defend in 2026, and possibly against Sherrod Brown who raised $103-plus million in his losing 2024 effort, and then run again for the full term two years later as mentioned above. This means Husted (and any other appointee) would have to be in constant fundraising and campaign mode realistically over four consecutive years.

Considering President-Elect Donald Trump’s three consecutive victories in Ohio, including his 11-point win in November, DeWine winning in 2018 by five percentage points when polling suggested he would lose by that amount, and Vice President-Elect Vance and Sen. Moreno topping the vote in 2022 and 2024, Ohio has turned consistently red.

Therefore, it is most probable that the newly appointed Senator will be rated as the favorite to win in ’26, and most likely in 2028. Yet, constantly being in campaign mode for a long period of time before a big state electorate will not be easy. Of course, competing in a tough open Governor’s primary and general election is not a sure-fire draw either.

Ohio will again become a significant political state in the coming elections, with the marathon Senate campaign cycles effectively beginning for real as early as this week when Gov. DeWine is expected to reveal who earns his appointment.

The Ohio Senate Appointment

By Jim Ellis — Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024

Senate

Vice President-Elect and current Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

Soon after the Trump-Vance ticket won the November presidential election, the Senate appointment discussion to replace Ohio senator and Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance began.

The appointment conversation originally centered around the two individuals who were viewed as the leading candidates to assume the Senate seat — Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General David Yost.

Both men were gearing up for a gubernatorial run to replace incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine (R) who is ineligible to run for a third term. Therefore, it appeared that the governor appointing one to the Senate would avoid a bruising 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary and give the GOP a strong interim senator well positioned to hold the seat in succeeding elections. Such an easy solution, however, is no longer probable.

Both Husted and Yost have said they do not want the Senate appointment, and each is continuing to campaign for governor.

Now, the situation becomes even more complicated. Late last week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who entered the 2024 Republican Senate primary but fared poorly after leading in early polls, says he, too, is considering entering the governor’s race. LaRose has a base within the most conservative flank of the Ohio Republican Party, so he could be a factor in a crowded multi-candidate gubernatorial primary.

State Treasurer Robert Sprague and State Auditor Keith Faber are two more Republican statewide officials whose names have been mentioned in reference to the governor’s race. Others include Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Troy) and former congressman and statewide candidate Jim Renacci. It is unclear if Gov. DeWine is considering any of these latter individuals as possible Senate appointees.

Though the Senate appointment would be a gift to whoever becomes the interim incumbent, it is not without strings attached. While the individual would be guaranteed two years in the Senate, he or she would have to run to serve the balance of the term in 2026, and again in 2028 assuming the senator would want to run for the full six-year term. This means despite being handed the Senate seat, the individual would be forced into full campaign and fundraising mode for four years.

In the governor’s race, the eventual Republican nominee, after winning what promises to be a difficult primary, would not have a free ride in the general election. Democrats have formidable potential candidates and will certainly make a major run in the 2026 general election campaign.

Potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates included defeated Sen. Sherrod Brown who, in losing to Republican Bernie Moreno, raised more than $103 million for his re-election bid, the second highest of all US Senate candidates.

Other Democrats said to be considering the governor’s race include former congressman and 2022 Senate candidate Tim Ryan, State Supreme Court Justice and ex-Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, and mayors Aftab Pureval (D-Cincinnati), Andy Ginther (D-Columbus), and Justin Bibb (D-Cleveland).

Sen. Vance has not yet indicated when he plans to resign, but obviously he must do so before he takes the oath of office as vice president. Therefore, the Senate appointment drama will likely continue well into next month and likely very close to the presidential inauguration, which is scheduled for Jan. 20.

Expect Gov. DeWine to quickly announce his choice soon after Sen. Vance resigns. It would not be in the state of Ohio or the Republican Party’s interest to keep the Senate seat vacant for long.

Therefore, it’s very possible we will see a joint announcement when Vance resigns, which includes the vice president-elect officially leaving the Senate and the introduction of the interim replacement.

An Even Newer Senator
Will Emerge Post-Election

By Jim Ellis — Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024

Senate

Vice President-Elect and current Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

Even with 2024 Senate elections now projected as final, there will be another seat to fill soon.

Currently, with the Arizona race now called for Phoenix Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego (Pennsylvania may still go to a recount if the final margin falls to within half a percentage point), more Senate political intrigue will soon take center stage in the Buckeye State.

Because Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance has been elected vice president, an opening will occur once he resigns his current position prior to assuming his new national VP post. That means that Gov. Mike DeWine (R) will choose Sen. Vance’s replacement, and his decision may not only affect the Senate.

Ohio Gov. DeWine is serving his final two years as governor. When he first ran for his current post in 2018 a highly competitive Republican primary was forming with he, then-Secretary of State Jon Husted, and then-Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. DeWine, the Ohio attorney general at the time after previously serving in the US Senate — as lieutenant governor, in the US House, and the state Senate — was favored by most to win the primary, but the outcome was not certain.

Just before the filing deadline, Husted approached the attorney general and offered to drop out of the governor’s race if DeWine would support him for lieutenant governor. In Ohio, the governor and lieutenant governor are individually elected. DeWine accepted and the two then ran successfully as a team.

Now we approach the beginning of the 2026 election cycle. Gov. DeWine cannot succeed himself and both Lt. Gov. Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost (R) have already announced their intentions to run for the state’s top position. Therefore, the new Senate appointment could be a very attractive option for one of the two. The other then benefits by having an easier run through the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Should such a deal emerge, and this assumes the governor doesn’t have other ideas for a replacement choice, a difficult intra-party battle could once again be avoided through a joint agreement.

One place the governor surely will not turn is to fill the Senate opening is the Ohio congressional delegation. With the Republican US House majority again becoming razor thin, the party leadership may not be able to relinquish a vote during the vacancy period associated with a special election to replace the chosen Ohio member. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the governor will choose a sitting House member as his appointed senator.

In terms of the Senate, the timing of the appointment will be interesting. With Republican Bernie Moreno unseating veteran Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) last Tuesday and Vance leaving the Senate, freshman Moreno will likely become Ohio’s senior senator upon being sworn into office.

Yet, the timing of the resignation and appointment could well decide whether Moreno or the appointed lawmaker is the senior senator. Should Vance resign before the Senate convenes on Jan. 3, 2025 and DeWine makes a quick appointment, Moreno and the Senate-designee would be sworn in together.

Should Sen. Vance resign after the Senate is sworn in — he will become vice president on Jan. 20, 2025 — Moreno would become senior senator upon taking office with the appointed senator taking office a few days later.

With the victories of Moreno and Republican senators-elect Tim Sheehy (MT), David McCormick (PA), and Jim Justice (WV), the GOP will have 52 senators plus the Vance vacancy. It is likely they will want to hit the ground running with a new Majority Leader since current Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is stepping down from his post. Therefore, having an additional vote could be important if the Senate wants to consider major legislation early in the new Congress, so DeWine will be encouraged to make a quick appointment.

Appointing a Senate replacement for Vice President-Elect Vance apparently features many facets. Therefore, not only the individual chosen, but also the timing of the appointment would affect not only the personnel hierarchy but early significant legislation, as well.

Jockeying for Ohio’s Senate Seat

By Jim Ellis

Jan. 28, 2021 — Monday’s surprise announcement that Sen. Rob Portman (R) will not seek re-election next year has ignited a flurry of activity and speculation from potential candidates and political observers alike. Some looking to challenge Gov. Mike DeWine (R) are now also beginning to survey and assess how an open US Senate candidate field might unfold.

Recent voter history suggests that the eventual Republican nominee will at least begin the general election campaign in the favorite’s role. The GOP, with a large number of statewide office holders, former elected officials, and a dozen sitting US House members, has an array of candidates from which to choose, and many will take the plunge.

For example, former US Rep. Jim Renacci, who held Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) to a 53-47 percent victory in the 2018 campaign and was reportedly looking to challenge Gov. DeWine in the 2022 Republican primary, may now set his sights on the open Senate seat.

Another ex-office holder, Pat Tiberi, who averaged 60.6 percent of the vote over nine elections from a Columbus area congressional district that former governor and presidential candidate John Kasich once held, still sits on more than $5 million in his federal campaign account even though he hasn’t been on the ballot since 2016.

It was widely believed that he was amassing a huge war chest to run against Sen. Brown in ’18, but family considerations led him to change his mind, resign from Congress and instead take the reins of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

Still another former elected official, ex-state Treasurer Josh Mandel (R), who lost the 2012 Senate election to Sen. Brown, was planning to run again in 2018 until leaving the race because of his wife’s health issue. Mandel raised almost $20 million for his Senate race eight years ago and has over $4 million in his campaign account even though he has not been a federal candidate in eight years.

Republicans hold all of the state’s constitutional offices. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Attorney General Dave Yost, state Treasurer Robert Sprague, and State Auditor Keith Faber are all credible potential US Senate candidates.

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