A top contender to succeed Vice President-elect J.D. Vance in the U.S. Senate recently visited President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as the decision on the appointment approaches.

Under Ohio law, Republican Governor Mike DeWine will appoint Vance’s replacement to serve until a special election in 2026. That election will determine who completes the remainder of Vance’s term, which runs through 2028. The winner of the special election would then need to run again in 2028 to secure a full six-year term.
DeWine is expected to announce his decision in the coming weeks, with the new Congress scheduled to convene on January 3.

Earlier this week, DeWine traveled to Trump’s Palm Beach residence with Republican Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, who is believed to be a top candidate to replace Vance, according to a report from News 5 Cleveland.

The governor’s office spokesman, Dan Tierney, informed Fox News that DeWine is seeking a “workhorse” who is “qualified and ready to earn the trust of Ohio voters for another term.”