Lt. Gov. Jon Husted addresses reporters at the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 17, 2025. Husted has been selected by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill Vice President-elect JD Vance's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Photo: The Ohio Channel

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed his Republican lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to Ohio’s Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

“I wanted someone who has a firm grasp and understanding of the complexity of Ohio, the diversity and, frankly, the greatness of Ohio,” DeWine said at a Friday news conference announcing the appointment. “I have worked with him, I have seen him. I know his knowledge of Ohio. I know his heart. I know what he cares about. I know his skills. All of that tells me he is the right person for this job.”

Husted, 57, has served in the Ohio House of Representatives, including as House Speaker from 2005 to 2009. From there he moved to the Ohio State Senate before he was elected Ohio Secretary of State in 2010, winning re-election in 2014. He joined DeWine’s office as Lieutenant Governor in 2019.

Husted will serve in the U.S. Senate through 2026 when he’ll run in a special election to finish the remaining two years of Vance’s term. Husted confirmed Friday that he plans to run for the seat.

Speaking of his time serving alongside DeWine, Husted reaffirmed his commitment to the Trump administration in his new role.

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“We have worked to make Ohio great again, and I look forward to working with President Trump, JD Vance, to make America great again,” Husted said.

As Ohio Secretary of State, Husted hired Stephanie Ranade Krider, executive director of Ohio Right to Life, as his director of policy and legislative affairs. After her appointment, Krider said she was “honored to work for a great pro-life leader.”

Husted championed Ohio’s six-week ban on abortions following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. When Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights in 2023, Husted said, “we respect the decision of the voters.”

Ohio Right to Life congratulated Husted in a Facebook post following DeWine’s announcement, saying, “We thank you for making the right to life one of your top priorities! We are so happy to know that you will be fighting for life in the US Senate!”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio said Husted’s longstanding anti-abortion stance “raises serious questions.”

“Ohioans spoke loud and clear in 2023 when they overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, affirming their support for access to essential health care,” said Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. “Lieutenant Governor Husted now has an opportunity to represent the voices of his constituents, not advance a national anti-abortion agenda.”

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce applauded DeWine’s decision, calling Husted “the right choice.”

“Lt. Gov. Husted has always been committed to building a growing and prosperous state economy, and he has consistently taken action to make Ohio a great place to live, work and do business,” said Ohio Chamber President Steve Stivers. “Taxes that harm small businesses could double in the near future, the federal budget must be balanced and permitting reform is necessary to strengthen our state’s business climate. Lt. Gov. Husted is the right choice to get these things done and to advocate for Ohio at the Congressional level, and we look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Progressive policy think-tank Innovation Ohio called out DeWine’s decision to appoint Husted as “a big win for big business.”

“Husted is backed by big businesses that price-gouge us at the supermarket and at the gas pump, while they post record profits,” said Nick Tuell, senior communication director at Innovation Ohio. “As Ohio House Speaker, Husted eliminated taxes for big corporations at the expense of higher sales taxes on our everyday goods. Jon Husted is a career politician who always backs his big business pals over Ohio working families.”

DeWine’s appointment narrows the field of potential candidates to succeed the term-limited DeWine as governor in 2026. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati-area native, has signaled interest in the governorship.

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When asked who will fill Husted’s role as Lieutenant Governor, DeWine said he’ll start thinking about it after Monday’s inauguration.

“One big decision at a time,” he said.

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This article appears in Jan 8-21, 2025.