DeWine passes over Ramaswamy, selects Jon Husted for Senate

By Adam Wren, Sophia Cai | 01/17/2025 01:50 PM EST

The senator-to-be is an institutionalist Republican similar to the Ohio governor.

Jon Husted gives a thumbs-up on stage.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) has long planned to run for governor in 2026 to succeed Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R). Jay LaPrete/AP

Gov. Mike DeWine has selected his own Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to become the next senator from Ohio, passing over entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Two sources, granted anonymity to speak freely about the appointment, confirmed that DeWine (R) will pick Husted.

Husted, a Republican more in DeWine’s institutionalist mold, had long planned to run for governor in 2026 to succeed DeWine. His ascent to the Senate will likely scramble the field in that race.

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Ramaswamy learned midmorning Friday he would not be the pick, according to a person familiar with the discussion and granted anonymity to describe it.

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