Vivek Ramaswamy May Seek JD Vance’s Old Senate Seat in Ohio: Report

Vivek Ramaswamy is mulling a run for Vice President-elect JD Vance’s old Senate seat in Ohio, according to a new report from the Associated Press.

Why It Matters

Although Ohio has shifted toward Republicans over the past decade, Democrats are eyeing the seat vacated by Vance earlier in January as he is set to take office next Monday. Democrats have few chances of winning GOP-held Senate seats in 2026, with Maine and North Carolina being the two most likely flips.

Ramaswamy would bring high name recognition, fueled by his presidential bid, to the race, and he could also tap into his wealth to fund a robust campaign if the race becomes competitive.

What to Know

The AP reported that Ramaswamy has expressed interest in running, citing two people with direct knowledge of his plans. One of the sources told the AP that President-elect Trump approached him to urge him to consider running for the seat.

Newsweek reached out to Ramaswamy’s press email for comment on Wednesday.

Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, is set to appoint Vance’s replacement who will serve until after the midterm elections. Whoever wins in November 2026 would take office the following month.

DeWine has not yet said who he plans to appoint to the seat.

Ramaswamy emerged as a national figure during his longshot presidential bid, in which he challenged Trump in the Republican primary but still continued to voice praise for Trump, who eventually won the party’s nominee and went on to win the general election in November.

His support for key conservative policies made him a favorite among those on the right, and he was appointed by Trump to serve alongside billionaire Elon Musk as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a program to cut what they view as unnecessary government spending.

He recently sparred with some conservatives over his support for the H-1B visa program, which focuses on foreign workers working in specialized occupations.

Democrats Eye Ohio Senate Race

Democrats are hoping to compete in the state in 2026, particularly if there is a “blue wave” like in 2018, Trump’s first midterm. Still, Ohio is an uphill battle for Democrats, as it backed Trump by about 11 points last year.

Former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, who lost his race last year to GOP Senator Bernie Moreno, has been floated as a possible candidate but has not confirmed whether he plans to run again.

The president’s party traditionally sees losses in the midterms, but it’s not clear how competitive Ohio’s Senate race will be. Brown did win reelection in 2018, so a Democratic victory in a Trump midterm wouldn’t be unprecedented.

What People Are Saying

Lakshya Jain, an election forecaster at SplitTicket, on X: “Sherrod Brown vs Vivek Ramaswamy would *instantly* make Ohio’s 2026 Senate race a tossup in an ~R+10 state. Unfortunately for Democrats, it’s probably unlikely Mike DeWine does something that dumb.”

Andrew Desiderio, Punchbowl News senior reporter, on X: “Been almost a week since Vance resigned. Some R’s frustrated Dewine hasn’t filled the seat yet. Until he does, GOP majority sits at 52-47.”

What Happens Next

DeWine may announce his appointment to serve through the midterms in the coming weeks. His appointee will serve until December 2026, when the winner of the November 2026 election will take office. They will serve the remainder of Vance’s term and run for reelection in 2028.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether a Senate bid would disrupt his efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency.