Who will replace JD Vance as an Ohio U.S. Senator?

Now that current Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance has been elected vice president, who will represent the people of Ohio that chose him as their Senator, and when might we know? 

After being in the Senate for only two  years, Vance will need to step down before taking the position of Vice President of the United States.

Governor Mike DeWine will be in charge of appointing someone to Vance's seat for the remainder of his term. Since DeWine is term-limited out, political analysts agree this could make the decision less strategic.

“He's not running again. DeWine's political career is over with. He might want to put his own stamp on this and go with somebody he wants,” said Dr. Bill Binning, 21 news political analyst.

David Cohen, director of Applied Politics Program at The University of Akron, agrees.

“I think to a great extent, the pressure is off of him and he can make a choice that he really wants instead of worrying about what maybe the Ohio republican party wants or what president Trump will want,” said Cohen.

Instead, the choice will likely be a conservative that aligns with the governor, and has experience campaigning.

“Husted I'd like to think is a protegee of Mike DeWine. So, DeWine might go to him first to say, ‘Are you  interested in the Senate, or running for governor?’ Based on that answer, he may then look at other candidates if Husted said he wants to run for governor,” said Thomas Sutton, political science professor at Baldwin Wallace University.

Some of the other candidates could be State Senator Matt Dolan, former GOP Chair Jane Timken, or Secretary of State Frank LaRose. 

Once Vance steps down, his replacement will fill the seat through 2026. At that point, a special election will be held for the next full term.  

After that, the next election for the Ohio U.S. Senate seat will be in November of 2028, which will be the next presidential cycle.