Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance’s nomination as the Republican vice presidential candidate, announced Monday night, has sparked a wave of names and candidates interested in potentially taking his Senate seat — from local politicians to former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and powerful Ohio GOP congressman Jim Jordan.
Ramaswamy had reportedly been seeking the seat since around the time Vance was shortlisted for Republican President Donald Trump’s nomination.
“I would definitely consider it,” he said. during an interview for Politico before he learned of Vance’s election.
On Monday, Ramaswamy congratulated Vance, saying it was great to have his fellow Ohioan on the list.
“I am so proud of my friend, classmate and fellow Southwest Ohioan today,” he wrote on social media platform, X“We used to watch Bengals games in a bar in law school, and it’s amazing that here we are, a decade later, with J.D. joining the strongest presidential ticket of our lifetime. He will be an outstanding vice president, and I look forward to all that lies ahead for him and for our country.”
Under Ohio law, the governor, currently GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, will have to appoint a replacement senator until a special election is held.
Other suggested successors include Ohio Sen. Matt Dolan and GOP Reps. David Joyce and Mike Carey, according to Politico Playbook.
“Literally every name that has run for office in the last decade [is] “It was being thrown around all over the place,” an Ohio Republican Party official told Politico.
Two other names that have been suggested are Ohio Republicans Jim Jordan and Warren Davidson.
While moving from the House of Representatives to the more august Senate could certainly be considered a major political achievement for Jordan, he would be resigning from his influential position as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and becoming the state’s junior senator in a Democratic-controlled chamber.
Jordan’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
DeWine told reporters he would not consider choosing Vance’s successor until after the November presidential election, according to NOTUSa Washington-based publication published by the independent, nonpartisan Allbritton Institute of Journalism.
He also said he is currently focused on helping Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November.
Jane Timken, a 2022 Senate candidate, is also considering the possibility.
“Of course, I would consider it,” she told NOTUS. “I would run for Senate in 2022. If there is a vacancy, of course it is up to Governor DeWine, but I love Ohio and would be honored to serve.”
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Charlotte Hazard is a reporter for Just the News.
Photo “Jim Jordan” by Jim Jordan. Photo “Vivek Ramaswamy” by Vivek Ramaswamy. Photo “David Joyce” by Rep. Dave Joyce.
