President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly encouraging former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to consider filling the Ohio Senate seat left vacant by JD Vance, who is set to be sworn in as vice president next week. Trump has reportedly expressed support for Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native, to take the role if appointed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine.
Two people with knowledge of the matter told The Washington Post that Trump has directly encouraged Ramaswamy to accept the appointment if offered, and one of the two said that Elon Musk, who will collaborate with Ramaswamy on DOGE, also supports the idea.
Ultimately, the decision on who assumes the seat is left up to DeWine. The Governor did, however, travel to Mar-a-Lago last week to meet with Trump. "I’ll have an announcement probably next week," DeWine told reporters last Thursday.
Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022, formally resigned as he prepares to assume the vice presidency. This has triggered a process requiring DeWine to appoint an interim replacement until a special election can be held in 2026.
Ramaswamy withdrew his name from consideration for the Senate seat back in November when it was announced that he would head the newly formed "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) under Trump’s administration. Despite this, he is still being considered a strong contender for the Senate seat.
While Ramaswamy had initially planned to focus on his role at DOGE and possibly run for Ohio governor in 2026, some allies believe a Senate position could amplify his influence. The Senate would give Ramaswamy a platform to push for legislative priorities, including spending cuts, which align with the goals of DOGE. The position could also be more beneficial than DOGE, which is not an official government agency.
“I think it’s a great idea, and he should do it,” said Avik Roy, founder of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, according to The Washington Post. “In terms of the DOGE component, you want someone quarterbacking the legislative and statutory components in the Senate, and for Vivek, I think he and the country will benefit greatly from him serving in elected office.”
Other names under consideration include Jon Husted, Ohio’s lieutenant governor, and Jane Timken, a former state party chair who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022.
