New candidate emerges in crowded field as possible replacement for Vance’s Ohio Senate seat

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is considering Ohio attorney and Trump surrogate Mehek Cooke to fill Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat once he moves on to the White House, according to sources familiar with the situation. Cooke, a Republican attorney known for her fundraising abilities in the state of Ohio, has previously served as a political and legal surrogate for Trump during the 2024 campaign.

State law dictates that Gov. DeWine will select a Republican to temporarily fill Vance’s Senate seat until a special election is held in November 2026, to determine who will serve the rest of Vance’s term ending in 2028. The winner of the special election will then have to run again in 2028 for a new six-year term.

Mehek Cooke, who immigrated to the United States from India at a young age, has an impressive legal background, having worked in the Ohio governor’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. She is also the founder and President of American Frontier Strategies, a political consulting firm.

Marty Savko, a prominent Trump donor, praised Cooke as a “fighter” who is in touch with the average Ohioan and possesses a kind heart. He described her as honest, forthright, and independent in her decision-making.

Several other potential candidates are being considered for Vance’s Senate seat, including former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost, Treasurer Robert Sprague, State Sen. Matt Dolan, and Congressmen Mike Carey, David Joyce, and Warren Davidson.

Sources close to the situation indicated that Gov. DeWine is considering appointing a woman to the Senate seat, although gender is not the determining factor. The decision is expected to be announced once Vance officially vacates his seat, and DeWine is looking for a “workhorse” who is qualified and ready to earn the trust of Ohio voters for another term.

Cooke and a spokesperson for Gov. DeWine declined to comment on the matter. The timing of the announcement will depend on Vance’s official departure from the Senate seat. Stay tuned for updates on who will be chosen to fill JD Vance’s Senate seat in Ohio.