2026 United States Senate special election in Ohio
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The 2026 United States Senate special election in Ohio will be held on November 3, 2026, following the election of Senator JD Vance as vice president of the United States, as he resigned from the Senate on January 10, 2025, in preparation to assume the vice presidency on January 20.
According to Ohio law, if a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant, the governor appoints a replacement who serves until December 15 following the next regularly scheduled statewide election that occurs more than 180 days after the vacancy. A special election to fill the remainder of the term is then held concurrently with that regular state election, which in this case would be the one on November 3, 2026.[2][3] Governor Mike DeWine chose Jon Husted to replace Vance in the Senate.
This will be the first U.S. Senate special election in Ohio since the one to this seat in 1954.
Background
[edit]After voting for President Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012, Ohio has trended increasingly Republican in subsequent years and is now considered a moderately to strongly red state at the federal and state level. Republicans control all statewide offices, majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, and hold both Senate seats. Republicans also have a majority of the state's House delegation.
Republican nominee Donald Trump won Ohio in 2016 and 2020 by 8 percentage points, and in 2024 grew his margin to 11 percentage points.[4] Additionally, Republican JD Vance, now the vice president-elect of the United States, defeated Democrat Tim Ryan in the 2022 U.S. Senate election by slightly over 6 points, while Republican Bernie Moreno, defeated then-incumbent Sherrod Brown in the 2024 U.S. Senate election by slightly over 3.5 points.[5]
Interim appointment
[edit]Appointee
[edit]- Jon Husted, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio (2019–2025)[6]
Considered but not appointed
[edit]- Matt Dolan, former state senator from the 24th district (2017–2024) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 and 2024[7]
- Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State (2019–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[7]
- Vivek Ramaswamy, former CEO of Roivant Sciences (2014–2023) and candidate for president in 2024[7]
- Jane Timken, former chair of the Ohio Republican Party (2017–2021) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[7]
Declined to be considered
[edit]- Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio (2019–present) and former U.S. Senator (1995–2007)[8]
- Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General (2019–present)[9] (running for governor)[10]
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Filed paperwork
[edit]- Jon Husted, incumbent U.S. senator (2025–present)[11]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Tim Ryan, former U.S. representative from Ohio's 13th congressional district (2003–2023) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022[12]
Potential
[edit]- Sherrod Brown, former U.S. Senator (2007–2025)[13][14]
- Greg Landsman, U.S. representative from Ohio's 1st congressional district (2023–present) (will not run if Sherrod Brown runs)[15]
- Allison Russo, Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives (2022–present) and nominee for Ohio's 15th congressional district in the 2021 special election[16]
Declined
[edit]- Shontel Brown, U.S. representative from Ohio's 11th congressional district (2021–present)[17]
- Emilia Sykes, U.S. representative from Ohio's 13th congressional district (2023–present)[17]
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[18] | Solid R | January 17, 2025 |
| 270toWin[19] | Likely R | January 5, 2025 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ JD Vance was elected vice president of the United States in the 2024 presidential election. He resigned his Senate seat on January 10, 2025.[1] Governor Mike DeWine appointed Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted as an interim successor.
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.nbc4i.com/news/politics/sen-j-d-vance-to-resign-ahead-of-vice-presidential-inauguration/amp/
- ^ Burd, Aaron (July 16, 2024). "How J.D. Vance's replacement in U.S. Senate will be picked if he becomes vice president". WCMH-TV.
- ^ "Filling vacancies in elective offices" (PDF). Ohio Secretary of State. p. 2. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Schladen, Marty (November 6, 2024). "Trump wins Ohio for a third time". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Evans, Nick (November 6, 2024). "Republican Bernie Moreno defeats incumbent Sherrod Brown for Ohio U.S. Senate seat • Ohio Capital Journal". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Wren, Adam; Cai, Sophia (January 17, 2025). "DeWine passes over Ramaswamy, selects Jon Husted for Senate". Politico. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Staver, Anna (November 11, 2024). "Ohio Republican Sen. Matt Dolan seeking appointment to fill vacancy left by VP-elect JD Vance". WOSU-TV. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
Other names reportedly on DeWine's list include Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
- ^ Trau, Morgan (July 24, 2024). "Here's what qualities Gov. Mike DeWine wants to see in his possible U.S. Senate appointment". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine chuckled as he denied interest in appointing himself to the open Senate seat
- ^ Kronenberg, Alan (September 5, 2024). "Who Would Take Over for JD Vance or Tim Walz, and Does it Matter?". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Andrews, Melissa (December 4, 2024). "Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says he will run for Governor". WTOL. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "HUSTED FOR SENATE - committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
- ^ Tobias, Andrew (November 14, 2024). "Democrat Tim Ryan open to 2026 election run; who's battling for Ohio House speaker". Signal Cleveland. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ Daniels, Eugene; Bade, Rachael (November 15, 2024). "Playbook: Trump floods the zone with new appointees". Politico. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
On whether he'd run to fill the remainder of JD Vance's Senate term: "I'm not ruling anything out."
- ^ Cohen, David (November 24, 2024). "Sherrod Brown won't rule out running for Senate again". Politico. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ Solender, Andrew (November 27, 2024). "Scoop: A huge wave of House members is eyeing runs for other offices in 2026". Axios. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "Replacing JD Vance in the U.S. Senate sets off scramble in Ohio". CBS News. November 22, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Solender, Andrew (December 12, 2024). "GOP Rep. Ciscomani passes on run for Arizona governor". Axios. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
Reps. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) won't run for Vice President-elect JD Vance's Senate seat, according to Sykes' office and a statement from Brown.
- ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ "2026 Senate Interactive Map". 270toWin. Retrieved January 22, 2025.