Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose tops a crowded field of possibilities to replace U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, once he vacates his seat to take office as Donald Trump’s vice president, a new poll found.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to name a replacement once Vance steps down from his post when he and Trump are sworn into office on Jan. 20. DeWine has a broad field of possible candidates to succeed Vance, who took office in 2023, including Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost, both of whom are seen as possible gubernatorial contenders in 2026.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio; U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio; state Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls; U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio; and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken are also among the candidates whose names have been linked to the seat. Whoever the governor selects will have to run for re-election in November 2026.
“Some people have already contacted me. I’ve already met with some people at their request,” USA Today quoted DeWine as previously telling reporters before November’s presidential election.
“Look, being a United States senator is a big deal,” CBS News quoted the governor as saying after the election. “It’s a big deal for the state, and we need to get it right.”
Vivek Ramaswamy, a presidential candidate in this year’s GOP primary, was also seen as a contender to replace Vance. However, he is working on the Trump transition team and has withdrawn his name from consideration.
A WPA Intelligence survey found that LaRose, the Buckeye State’s secretary of state since January 2019, revealed that other candidates trailed the secretary of state in favorability. The poll revealed that 16% of Republican voters hold a “very favorable opinion” of LaRose and concluded that LaRose has the best chance of winning re-election in 2026.
The survey of 1,028 likely Ohio voters, conducted from Nov. 17-20, found that LaRose, a former state senator and Bronze Star recipient, leads a crowded hypothetical Republican primary election field with 17% of the vote. That tops Husted (10%) and Yost (9%) and more than doubles the other possible candidates.
Nearly four in 10 (39%) were undecided in the primary.
In theoretical general election matchups, LaRose receives nearly half (49%) of the vote to the Democratic candidate’s 42%, with about 9% undecided. Pollsters say this finding confirms strong party support for LaRose and his broader appeal among undecided voters, making him the strongest pick to fill the vacancy.
Insiders said that of the candidates Trump has previously endorsed, LaRose is the favorite to receive the former and president-elect’s endorsement. As secretary of state, he’s championed election integrity measures that align with Trump’s positions.
Last month, LaRose filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. Southern District of Ohio demanding that the Department of Homeland Security provide access to citizenship records, saying the agency had unlawfully withheld the information.
In August, he called on state lawmakers to pass legislation to give his office the power to mandate proof of citizenship on state-issued voter registration forms. The following month, he joined five fellow secretaries of state before the U.S. House Committee on Administration, urging congressional support for ongoing citizenship audits of state voter rolls.
Trump’s endorsement could prove to be the Midas touch.
He endorsed Bernie Moreno in this year’s Republican primary. Moreno defeated LaRose and Dolan, who picked up endorsements from more establishment Republicans, including DeWine.
In November’s general election, Moreno knocked off U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, a victory that helped Republicans regain control of the Senate from Democrats.
