Republican Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted speaks during an election night watch party Nov. 8, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

A report from the Columbus Dispatch suggests that Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) is the frontrunner to replace JD Vance in the U.S. Senate.

The 40-year-old Vance was elected the country’s vice president alongside his running mate Donald Trump in November, leaving a vacancy for one of Ohio’s U.S. Senate seats. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has the authority to fill the vacancy after Vance resigns from his position, which needs to happen prior to his and Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

Sources close to the situation also told the Dispatch that Husted will likely be nominated if he wants the job, but that he may be more interested in running for governor in 2026.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do. I think he is really struggling. Jon is a state guy, he’s never been a D.C. guy,” the source reportedly said.

Whoever DeWine appoints will serve in the Senate until Jan. 2027. A special election will be held in Nov. 2026 to fill out the rest of Vance’s term. In addition to Husted, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and former state Sen. Matt Dolan — who both ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024 against eventual winner Bernie Moreno— are rumored to be in the mix.

DeWine, who just turned 78, will hit his term limit in 2026, leaving the governor seat open for a new leader.