Ohio will be sending two new Senators to Washington when the next Congress convenes, following a series of political shifts that will leave the state with an open Senate seat.
Bernie Moreno, a Cleveland businessman, will take over one of Ohio’s Senate seats, replacing long-time incumbent Sherrod Brown. Moreno, who previously ran for Senate in 2022, will now step into the role after winning the nomination for the seat.
In a surprising turn of events, Ohio’s other Senate seat will also be up for grabs due to JD Vance’s new position. Vance, the author and venture capitalist, has won the race to become Vice President in the upcoming presidential election following the victory of Donald Trump. As a result, Vance will vacate his Senate seat in order to assume the role of Vice President, creating a vacancy that must be filled.
With the Ohio Senate seat left open, Governor Mike DeWine will be tasked with appointing a replacement to serve until a special election is held in 2026 to finish out Vance’s term. DeWine, who previously endorsed Matt Dolan in the Republican primaries, has signaled that Dolan could be a likely choice to fill the seat. Dolan, a state senator and businessman, is seen as a moderate within the party and could appeal to both conservative and more centrist voters.
Other potential candidates for the appointment include former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, tech entrepreneur and 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted. While Husted has strong political experience, having served as DeWine’s running mate since 2018, it is unclear if he will be a contender for the position.
Ohio has a history of voting out gubernatorial appointees in Senate races, making the future of this appointment uncertain. The state’s political landscape could shift significantly in the 2026 special election, which will be held to determine who will serve the remainder of Vance’s term.
As Ohio prepares for these significant changes, political analysts are closely watching to see how these shifts will shape the state’s influence in Washington moving forward.
