Vice President-elect JD Vance has announced that he will resign from his U.S. Senate seat, effective Friday. He made his intentions clear in a letter to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, stating his decision to step down as he prepares for his new role.
Vance’s Reflection on His Service
In the letter, Vance expressed his gratitude for serving Ohio. “It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the people of Ohio in the Senate over the past two years,” he wrote. Additionally, Vance took a moment to reflect on his Appalachian roots, saying, “When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and I’ve made sure to live by that promise every single day.”
Governor DeWine’s Role in Selecting a Successor
As Vance vacates the Senate seat, Governor DeWine will appoint a successor. However, DeWine’s spokesperson indicated that the appointment would not happen before Friday due to DeWine’s participation in a governors’ event with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday evening.
Candidates for the Senate Seat
Several prominent Republicans in Ohio are reportedly interested in the seat. Among them are Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Treasurer Robert Sprague, U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, state Sen. Matt Dolan, former state chair Jane Timken, and strategist Mehek Cooke. Recently, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has emerged as a strong contender.
DeWine Keeps His Options Open
Governor DeWine has refrained from commenting on discussions with Trump, stating, “I’m not ready to make an announcement yet, but the announcement will be coming soon.” Husted, who is also considered a potential candidate for governor in 2026, added, “We’re considering all the options.”
The appointed successor will serve until December 2026. However, they will need to run for the remainder of the term in November 2026.