Vice President-elect J.D. Vance formally resigned from the Senate last week as he prepares for his first term in the White House as of Jan. 20 with President-elect Donald Trump.

With Vance exiting the upper chamber, as the rules state in most states, the governor -- in this case Gov. Mike DeWine -- is responsible for selecting a replacement for the departing senator when they resign or leave for higher office during their term.

According to the Associated Press, Gov. DeWine made his decision this week in naming Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted as Vance's successor for the vacant Ohio Senate seat. 

He will hold the seat until 2026, when a special election can take place to determine the final replacement, which will be chosen by Ohio voters.

What's going on?

The Ohio governor made the decision on Friday, ending months of what the AP called "jockeying" by several of Ohio's top Republicans, who all wanted the seat in the upper chamber.

Typically, being named as a temporary seat filler can often reap benefits for those who go on to run for the permanent version of the seat, as name recognition and legislative accomplishments can impress voters.

Husted was originally planning on a gubernatorial run, but obviously those plans have changed now that he'll have a leg up on his competition for anyone who might oppose him in 2026.

For his part, Husted released a video message on his X account announcing his intentions when he's sworn in as a U.S. senator.

"I’m ready to get to work in the U.S. Senate for every Ohioan. I’ll fight to shrink government, return power to the states, and deliver on the promises of the America First agenda," he wrote, adding a link to his video message.

I’m ready to get to work in the U.S. Senate for every Ohioan.

I’ll fight to shrink government, return power to the states, and deliver on the promises of the America First agenda.

Watch the video below to see my vision for Ohio’s future! pic.twitter.com/4U0B39VU7B

— Jon Husted (@JonHusted) January 18, 2025

DeWine's statement

The governor released a quick statement upon appointing his right-hand man to the coveted seat.

“I have worked with him, I have seen him, I know his knowledge of Ohio,” DeWine said. “I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills. And all of that tells me that he is the right person for this job."

He will hold the seat until December of 2026, when an election will be held to fill the remaining two years of Vance's six-year Senate term.

Husted has a history of bipartisanship in his various roles, and has vowed to work across the aisle when necessary when he gets to Washington D.C.