U.S. Senator from Ohio, J.D. Vance will become the next vice president, creating a vacancy in the U.S. Senate.

Former President Donald Trump and his running mate Vance defeated Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in the presidential election called Wednesday morning by The Associated Press. Vance will have to resign his Senate seat before being sworn in as vice president on Inauguration Day on January 20.

It is now about Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will choose a Republican to fill Vance’s open Senate seat until a special election is held in 2026. Whoever DeWine appoints must run in the 2026 special election if he wants to keep his seat.

Vance is currently serving his first term in the U.S. Senate after being elected against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in 2022. Whoever wins the 2026 special election will serve the remainder of Vance’s term, which expires in 2028.

DeWine has not yet given any indication as to who he is considering to replace Vance in the Senate, but there are several potential names which circulated, includingSenator Matt Dolan, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, Republican National Committee Ohio committee member Jane Timken, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ohio Sec. of the State Frank LaRose, among others.

Republican Bernie Moreno defeated Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in a hotly contested Senate race Tuesday. Some wonder if Brown could run for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

Follow the OCJ journalist Megan Henry on X.