J.D. Vance was elected to the U.S. Senate as a MAGA Republican.

• Now the question is whether or not he will serve as one.

Why it matters: Ohio has not yet elected a statewide Republican who has fully embraced former President Trump and his bombastic political style, but that may have changed with Vance's win over Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan.

Driving the news: Vance's conversion from fervent Trump critic to full-throated supporter and election denier attracted his endorsement and propelled last night's victory.

State of play: Vance's frequent emphasis on economic issues and public safety appealed to Ohioans, despite supporting hardline anti-abortion views that conflict with a majority of voters who want abortion rights protected.

• The Republican especially dominated in rural counties and performed well in the Mahoning Valley, even winning Ryan's home county of Trumbull.
• Ryan openly courted right-leaning voters during his campaign, praising Trump policies in TV ads while distancing himself from national Democrats.

What they're saying: Vance struck a conciliatory tone at his victory party, pledging to fight for all Ohioans regardless of their politics.

The intrigue: Vance replaces Republican Sen. Rob Portman, a policy wonk who led bipartisan negotiations on last year's infrastructure package and blamed "partisan gridlock" for his decision to retire.

• Portman and Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, publicly maintained a cooperative posture during their 12 years representing Ohio together.

What we're watching: Vance may opt to resemble Portman by reverting to his pre-election identity as a pragmatic capitalist.

• Or he will serve as a "MAGA all-star," as Trump called him at Monday's campaign rally in Dayton.

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Gov. Mike DeWine defeated Democratic challenger Nan Whaley in his bid for re-election.

Why it matters: After a first term largely devoted to handling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Republican now has another four years to focus on other state priorities like mental health care and children's services.

State of play: DeWine received more than 1 million more votes than the former Dayton mayor, per unofficial totals from the Ohio Secretary of State.

Flashback: At one point during his first term, DeWine held a higher approval rating among Ohio Democrats than members of his own party.

• He survived a Republican primary challenge and was loudly booed while speaking at Trump's rally in Dayton on Monday.

Between the lines: Lasting support from Democratic voters may have contributed to his commanding victory.

• A Baldwin Wallace University poll conducted in late October showed DeWine with the support of 1-in-10 likely Democratic voters.

Zoom in: DeWine also overcame his administration's reported ties to a legislative bribery scandal that has embroiled the capital city since mid-2020.

• Voters were similarly unswayed by the governor's support for legislation banning abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, removing permitting requirements for gun owners and allowing teachers to be armed in schools.
• Whaley had sought to make abortion rights a key issue in the campaign, drawing attention to Ohio's 10-year-old rape victim who traveled out of state for an abortion.

The big picture: The victory for DeWine, 75, likely caps off a political career that began as Greene County prosecutor in 1977 and has since featured a half-dozen other public offices in Columbus and D.C.

What they're saying: In a post-election speech to supporters, DeWine said Ohio continues to "move forward." He pledged to invest in better infrastructure and bring jobs to the state over the coming years.

The other side: "I still believe that our citizens deserve better than what they're getting," Whaley wrote on Twitter. "And I still believe in the people of this state to get us there."

GOP victories at the top of the ticket headlined another banner election for Ohio Republicans within all three branches of government.

Driving the news: Republicans held control of the Ohio Supreme Court, maintained supermajorities in both Statehouse chambers and once again swept the slate of executive offices.

• The state's congressional delegation now features 10 Republicans and five Democrats.

Why it matters: These wins may pay further dividends as the state's redistricting process continues.

• Republicans have a numbers advantage when it comes to drawing and approving new legislative maps.
• Future legal challenges against these maps could start falling Republicans' way now that Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, a Republican who ruled with Democrats in redistricting cases, is retired.

Separately, Ohio voters approved a pair of statewide ballot issues tasking courts to consider public safety when setting cash bail, and requiring voters to be U.S. citizens.

In Columbus, voters overwhelmingly approved all five parts of a $1.5 billion bond issue package, including $200 million for affordable housing.

• We'll break down that impact with a deep dive in tomorrow's newsletter.

Meanwhile, voters also passed three city charter amendments, including one that prohibits self-dealing using taxpayer money.

✅ Catch up fast: According to last night's unofficial results, voters approved several other issues across Franklin County, including:

• A countywide senior services levy.
• School tax levies and bonds for New Albany, Pickerington, Upper Arlington and Worthington.
• A Franklin Township police levy.
• A Grandview Heights bond for a police, fire and municipal services building.
• A New Albany park levy and bond for a field house and community center.
• New electric service aggregation programs in Hilliard and Marble Cliff.
• Six charter amendments in Reynoldsburg.