REPORT: Vivek Ramaswamy Is A Final Contender To Fill JD Vance’s Senate Seat

Speculation is mounting across Ohio as the race to fill JD Vance’s soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat narrows. Sources close to the Ohio Republican Party indicate that Vivek Ramaswamy, a former GOP presidential candidate and outspoken conservative entrepreneur, has emerged as a final contender for the position. With Vance preparing to assume the role of vice president alongside President-elect Donald Trump in January, Governor Mike DeWine faces the task of selecting his Senate replacement.

Top GOP strategists have shared with The New York Post that only two candidates truly remain in the running: Jane Timken and Vivek Ramaswamy. Sources close to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine suggest that Timken, a Harvard-educated attorney and chair of the Ohio Republican Party, is slightly favored by the governor.

Ultimately, the choice will hinge on President-elect Donald Trump’s influence. Should Trump urge Governor DeWine to select a candidate who embodies the Make America Great Again ethos, Vivek Ramaswamy is expected to prevail, insiders said. On the other hand, if Governor DeWine retains his characteristic moderate stance in making the decision, Jane Timken is considered the likely winner, according to experts.

When a U.S. Senate seat is vacated, as is the case with J.D. Vance departing to serve as Vice President, each state follows its own protocols, outlined in state law, for filling the vacancy. In Ohio, the governor is empowered to appoint an interim senator. This appointment serves as a stopgap measure until a special election can be organized to allow voters to select a permanent successor.

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Under Ohio law, the governor is vested with the power to choose a temporary successor when a Senate seat becomes vacant. This appointment, while temporary, carries with it significant responsibility and influence, bridging the gap until the electorate has its say in a special election. The period of interim representation is not merely a placeholder phase but a critical window during which substantial legislative decisions and policy advancements can occur.

“She’s [Timken] a good compromise between MAGA and DeWine in my opinion,” said a Republican insider involved in Ohio’s senatorial transitions, speaking to The Post. The primary concern for the Ohio GOP is the potential challenge from Democrat Sherrod Brown in the special election needed to fill Vance’s seat until 2028. The selection must not only align with a conservative agenda on Capitol Hill but also possess the charisma to compete against Brown in a statewide contest, particularly without Trump leading the ticket.

Timken is considered a conservative but has shown tendencies to bridge the moderate-conservative divide within the Republican Party. Her alignment with traditional Republican values while maintaining a level of independence in her views has positioned her as a candidate who could appeal to a broad spectrum of Republican voters.

“It’s going to be Vivek,” said another GOP insider at Miami University in Ohio to The Post. “DeWine isn’t going to like it, but Trump is the one who’s gonna make the call. And DeWine will take that call.” Despite Governor DeWine not aligning with the MAGA movement, the influence of the former and future president is expected to be decisive, the source added.

While Ramaswamy lacks traditional political experience, his entrepreneurial success and engagement with conservative media provide him with a different kind of platform. His rhetoric and positions tend to align closely with those of Trump, advocating for strong nationalistic policies and a sharp critique of what he sees as overreach by the federal government.

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