Potential Ohio GOP Senate candidates line up for position after Vance VP announcement

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance being named Monday night as the GOP’s vice-presidential nominee sparked a flurry of names and  interested candidates coming forth to potentially take his Senate seat – from local politicians to former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to the powerful GOP Ohio congressman Jim Jordan.

Ramaswamy has reportedly been angling for the seat since about the time Vance emerged on GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's short list.

“I would strongly consider it,” he said during a Politico interview before he knew about Vance being selected.  

Ramaswamy congratulated Vance on Monday, saying it was great that a fellow Ohioan was on the ticket.

"So proud of my friend, classmate, and fellow southwest Ohioan today," he wrote on the social media platform, X. "We used to watch Bengals games at the bar in law school, it’s awesome we’re now here a decade later with JD joining the strongest presidential ticket in our lifetime. He’ll be an outstanding Vice President and I look forward to everything ahead for him and for our country."

According to Ohio law, the governor, now GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, will have to appoint a replacement senator until a special election can be held. 

Other suggested replacements include Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan and GOP Reps. David Joyce and Mike Carey, according to Politico Playbook.

"Literally every name that’s run for office in the last decade [is] being tossed around," an Ohio Republican source told Politico. 

Two other names that have been suggested include Ohio GOP Reps. Jim Jordan and Warren Davidson. 

While moving from the House to the more august Senate would certainly be considered a major political achievement for Jordan, he would leave behind his powerful post as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and he would be the state's junior senator in a Democrat-controlled chamber. 

Jordan's office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

DeWine told reporters that he would not be considering a replacement for Vance until after the outcome of the presidential election in November has been decided, according to NOTUS, a Washington publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute. 

He also said he is currently focused on helping Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November.

Jane Timken, a 2022 Senate candidate,  is also considering the opportunity. 

“Obviously, I would consider it," she told NOTUS. "I ran for the Senate in 2022. If there’s a vacancy, obviously, it’s up to Governor DeWine, but I love Ohio, and I’d be honored to serve.”