Vice President-Elect Vance Steps Down From Senate

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance resigned from his Ohio Senate seat, effective this Friday.

 

Vance announced his intentions in a Thursday letter to the Ohio Republican Governor. Mike DeWine will select his successor.

 

Vance wrote: “As I prepare for my duties as the Vice President of the United States I would like to express that serving the people of Ohio at the Senate during the past two years has been an incredible honor and privilege.”

 

Vance acknowledged his Appalachian roots in a statement he released.

 

Vance stated, “I promised that I would never forget my roots when I was elected into this office. I have made it a point to keep to that promise each and every day.”

 

DeWine said that he would appoint Vance once Vance vacated the seat. DeWine, according to a spokesperson, was attending a Governors’ Event at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate in Florida on Thursday evening. It is unlikely that he will announce his appointment before Friday.

 

 

DeWine is the only person who can appoint a successor for Vance. Vance was elected in 2022 to a six-year term. Many Republicans have expressed interest in this seat. They include former Republican State Chair Jane Timken, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and Treasurer Robert Sprague. Rep. Mike Carey and state Sen. Matt Dolan are also interested.

 

The latest speculations have focused on Lt. Jon Husted accompanied DeWine to Mar-a-Lago for a recent meeting with Trump.

 

DeWine refused to give any hints as to what the topic of these discussions was when reporters asked him during a bill signing at the Statehouse on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio.

 

He said, “I am not yet ready to announce anything but it will happen soon.”

 

Husted, also present, stated merely: “We are considering all options and that’s all I can say.”

 

Husted was considered the frontrunner for running for governor in 2026 after years of preparing for it. He is a two-term Ohio secretary of state, a former Ohio House Speaker, and a state senator.

 

DeWine’s nominee will serve through December 2026. The remaining term would be in November 2026.