Vice President-elect JD Vance underwent a scheduled minor surgical procedure shortly after the Senate swearing-in ceremony on Friday, marking the start of the new Congress in Washington, D.C. According to Fox News, sources close to Vance confirmed that the surgery was planned in advance.
William Martin, a spokesperson for Vance, said, “The Vice President-elect is having long-planned, minor sinus surgery and will be back at work tomorrow.” Before the surgery, Vance was in attendance on Capitol Hill while Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath to the newly elected senators.
As discussions ramp up regarding Vance’s successor in the U.S. Senate, a notable candidate recently visited President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Under Ohio law, the task of appointing Vance’s replacement falls to Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who will select someone to serve until a special election in 2026. This election will determine who will complete Vance’s term, which lasts until 2028, with the new appointee needing to campaign again in 2028 for a complete six-year term.
Governor DeWine is expected to make an announcement about his decision in the coming weeks, as the new Congress convenes on January 3. Earlier this week, DeWine, along with Republican Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted—who is seen as a leading contender to succeed Vance—visited Trump’s property in Palm Beach, as reported by News 5 Cleveland.
Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, told Fox News that DeWine is seeking a “workhorse” who is “qualified and prepared to earn the trust of Ohio voters for another term.”
Besides Husted, DeWine is also considering Mehek Cooke, a Republican attorney who acted as a political and legal adviser for Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign in Ohio, a state strongly supportive of Trump. Cooke has established herself as a prominent GOP fundraiser in the state and has defended Trump against politically motivated legal challenges across multiple media platforms.
Initially, businessman and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was viewed as a strong candidate for the Senate seat and had expressed his willingness to serve. However, he was recently appointed to a newly formed presidential task force focused on cutting government waste, where he will collaborate with X owner Elon Musk. This new role appears to temporarily remove Ramaswamy from consideration for the Senate while he has also expressed interest in a future gubernatorial run.
Other candidates being considered include State Senator Matt Dolan, a loyal ally of DeWine who has previously run unsuccessful primary campaigns against Vance and Senator-elect Bernie Moreno.
Additionally, former Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who previously ran in the primary against Moreno, and Ohio’s Republican Attorney General Dave Yost have also emerged as potential candidates, according to Fox News.
“I am always ready to answer the call of duty, but my current focus is on fulfilling the responsibilities that Ohioans have entrusted to me,” LaRose remarked when asked for his thoughts. “We have successfully conducted another secure, accurate, and accessible election for the voters of Ohio, and our work continues. It is crucial that we certify the results promptly to facilitate the electoral college meeting scheduled for next month.”
“We are working closely with our boards of elections to process absentee ballots and assist voters with provisional ballots. There is a potential for a recount in one congressional district race. We are also pressing the Biden administration to provide the federal citizenship records necessary to ensure the integrity of Ohio’s voter rolls,” LaRose elaborated.
“There is much work to be done. I recognize that Governor DeWine faces a significant decision, and I trust he will act in the best interests of Ohio,” he concluded.