COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republican Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will succeed Vice President-elect JD Vance in the U.S. Senate, the state's governor announced Friday.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will replace J.D. Vance in Congress’ upper chamber, as the former senator readies for his inauguration as vice president. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Husted’s appointment during a Friday news conference,

Husted will join freshman Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno in Washington to fill out the next two years of Vance’s term before running in a special election in 2026. The Senate flipped to a Republican majority in the 2024 election cycle and now stands at 53-47 with the appointment.