GOP contenders emerge in Ohio for J.D. Vance’s Senate seat

Several Republicans in Ohio are emerging as potential candidates to fill the Senate seat that will be vacated when Vice President-elect Sen. J.D. Vance takes the oath of office in January.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, will appoint someone to fill the seat, and the person he chooses will face a special election in 2026 to finish the remainder of Mr. Vance’s term, which ends in 2028. It’s likely the incumbent will then launch another campaign for a full six-year term.

Mr. DeWine told reporters he will select a candidate whom both the moderate and Trump factions of the GOP can agree on.

“It has to be someone who could win a primary. It has to be somebody who could win a general election, and then two years later, do it all again,” Mr. DeWine said. “So this is not for the fainthearted. This is not for someone who just wants a seat.”

Assuming Mr. DeWine chooses a Republican, the GOP will have a 53-47 majority in January.

A handful of Ohio Republicans are being suggested as possibilities, including Rep. Mike Carey, who was elected this month to a second full term in Congress. He expressed interest in becoming the Buckeye State’s next senator, Spectrum News reported, but his potential departure from the lower chamber would further trim the House GOP’s already narrow margin of control and could risk handing the majority to the Democrats.

“I’ve known the governor since I was 12 years old. And I’ve communicated that I would be honored to serve as a senator for the state of Ohio,” Mr. Carey said. “I love the state.”

Another Republican being floated is Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Mr. LaRose was defeated in the GOP Senate primary in March for the chance to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, a contest that Republican Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno ultimately won in the general election.

Mr. LaRose served in the Ohio Senate between 2011 and 2018, and President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Mr. LaRose’s 2022 reelection bid for Secretary of State.

According to Spectrum One News, he is also interested in seeking out another post in the incoming Trump administration related to heading up the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

“I’m always ready to answer the call of duty, but I’m also focused right now on doing the job Ohioans hired me to do,” Mr. LaRose said in a statement. “We delivered another secure, accurate and accessible election for Ohio voters, and that work continues… There’s a lot to be done. I know Gov. DeWine has an important decision to make, and I’m confident he’ll do what’s in the best interest of Ohio.”

State Sen. Matt Dolan, who also competed in the GOP senate primary and was endorsed by Mr. DeWine, is a potential choice for the Ohio governor to consider. But gaining support among Trump voters in the primary could be difficult for him, as he carries many moderate positions in a state Mr. Trump carried by double digits.

Attorney General Dave Yost, who campaigned for Mr. Moreno, may be a possibility. But according to reports, he is raising money for a 2026 run for governor, and Mr. DeWine has already thrown his support for the office behind his Lt. Gov. John Husted.

Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio native and business entrepreneur who ran in the GOP presidential primary, was initially thought to be a contender for the Senate seat.

However, when Mr. Trump appointed him to co-lead the “Department of Government Efficiency” with tech billionaire Elon Musk, Mr. Ramaswamy shelved any plans to become part of the upper chamber.

“And yes, this means I’m withdrawing myself from consideration for the pending Senate appointment in Ohio,” Mr. Ramaswamy posted on X. “Whoever Governor DeWine appoints to JD’s seat has some big shoes to fill. I will help them however I can.”