Jul 15, 2024 - Politics & Policy

What happens to J.D. Vance's Senate seat if Trump wins

Tyler Buchanan

J.D. Vance at the RNC — Sen. J.D. Vance during the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

If Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is elected Donald Trump's vice president this fall, Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine will be responsible for filling his Senate seat.

Why it matters: That means it would likely remain in Republican hands for two more years before a required special election — an important hold in a closely divided Senate chamber.

State of play: Vance's six-year term expires in 2028. If he and Trump win and Vance resigns, state law dictates that DeWine appoint a temporary replacement.

A special election would be held in November 2026 for the remaining two years of the term, and a traditional election would follow in 2028 for a full six-year term.
Vance won his seat in 2022 with 53% of the vote.

The intrigue: DeWine is declining to speculate on possible replacements, and it's unclear whom Vance would prefer for the seat, Cleveland.com reports.

The news outlet noted Republican officials Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost and Treasurer Robert Sprague have already been planning to run for governor in 2026.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for Ohio's other Senate seat this spring, is another possible contender.

Flashback: Vice President Kamala Harris resigned from her California Senate seat two days before the 2021 inauguration.

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What happens to J.D. Vance's Senate seat if Trump wins

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