Ohio governor names three criteria for picking Vance Senate replacement

MILWAUKEE — Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) is keeping his cards close to his vest when it comes to whom he might choose to replace Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) in the Senate.

But he did outline a few guiding principles for how he will decide should Vance win election as former President Donald Trump’s vice president in the fall.

Speaking to the Washington Examiner at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, DeWine expressed an interest in appointing a results-oriented Republican.

“I want somebody who’s going to roll up their sleeves, try to make a difference every day, putting things together, getting things accomplished for Ohio and the country,” he said from the convention floor.

The comment should come as no surprise to those following DeWine’s career. He has a pragmatic streak and looks for the same in the candidates he endorses.

That led him to back state Sen. Matt Dolan’s failed run for U.S. Senate earlier this year, at the time applauding him for knowing “how to get results for Ohio.”

Trump-aligned entrepreneur Bernie Moreno went on to win the primary, but Dolan could now have a shot with Vance’s seat should it open up. He is among the names being floated to serve out the remainder of his term, which lasts through 2028.

“Everybody’s got opinions,” DeWine said of the stream of calls he’s already receiving on the topic. Other possible contenders include Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, former state GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken, and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), the chairman of the Republican Governance Group in the House.

Under Ohio law, DeWine gets to appoint Vance’s replacement, but the appointment would be short lived. The state would hold a special election in November 2026 for the final two years of Vance’s term.

For this reason, DeWine says he wants someone with the appetite to run, in effect, for the next four years. 

“We want someone who’s gonna go there, or at least has the intent to stay, and do everything they can to stay there,” DeWine said, signaling he does not want to appoint a caretaker to the seat.

The final qualification is someone who can win the primary. “Then they’ve got to win a general election,” he said. “They’ve got to be able to do it a couple times.”

Ohio is a reliably red state, having elected Trump by 8 points in 2020, but a rift between the “old guard” establishment and “America First” candidates like Moreno has led to bitter GOP primaries.

DeWine started giving thought to replacing Vance a couple of weeks ago once he said it became more likely he would be Trump’s vice presidential nominee. But he told the Washington Examiner he would be focused on Moreno’s race until November.

DeWine has since supported Moreno as the party tries to unseat Ohio’s other senator, three-term Democrat Sherrod Brown (D-OH).