Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s right-hand man has emerged as the front-runner to replace Vice President-elect J.D. Vance in the Senate, with the open question turning to whether he wants the job.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is considered the prohibitive favorite for the seat, to be appointed by DeWine in the coming days after Vance resigned on Thursday night.
Husted had been contemplating a run for governor in 2026, given DeWine is term-limited, but the late consensus in Ohio political circles is that the Senate job is Husted’s for the taking.
“DeWine can still surprise, but it would be a shock to everyone,” one GOP consultant said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A spokesman for DeWine declined to share who might be on his Senate short list, but a separate source familiar with the discussions told the Washington Examiner that former Ohio GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken and…
