Here are the candidates most likely to fill JD Vance’s Senate seat
Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is facing a competitive field of candidates looking to fill Vice President-elect JD Vance’s Senate seat. A recent poll conducted by WPA Intelligence reveals that Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is leading the pack in a hypothetical GOP primary for Vance’s seat. LaRose has garnered 17% support, with Lieutenant Gov. Jon Husted trailing behind at 10%.
Other contenders in the race include Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who received 9% support, and Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, who is actively campaigning for Vance’s position but only received 2% support in the poll. Republican attorney Mehek Cooke, who served as a surrogate for the Trump campaign in 2024, received 1% support.
Despite LaRose’s lead in the poll, a significant 39% of voters remain undecided. The poll, which surveyed 1,028 Ohio likely voters, was conducted from Nov. 17-20 through phone interviews and online surveys, with a margin of error of 3.1%.
When considering candidates who have received endorsements from President-elect Trump in the past, LaRose still maintains his lead with 30% support. Former Ohio Rep. Jim Rennaci is his closest competitor in this category. Carey, who also received a Trump endorsement prior to the current contest, garnered 7% support.
Both Trump and Vance have yet to make any endorsements in the race, but their support is likely to play a crucial role in determining the eventual winner. Governor DeWine has confirmed that he is carefully considering his options for selecting Vance’s replacement and aims to have a candidate ready for when Vance formally resigns his seat.
According to WPA’s polling analysis, LaRose emerges as the strongest GOP choice to fill Vance’s seat and secure victory against a Democratic challenger in the next election. As Ohio’s secretary of state, LaRose has been at the forefront of efforts to combat illegal voting, including purging hundreds of thousands of wrongful voter registrations, including non-citizen registrations, before Election Day. He also took legal action against President Biden’s administration in October to compel assistance in cleaning up voter rolls.
In conclusion, the race to fill Vance’s Senate seat remains competitive, with LaRose leading the field in the latest poll. His strong track record in combating voter fraud and securing endorsements from key figures in the Republican Party position him as a formidable candidate for the position. Stay tuned for updates as the competition heats up in Ohio’s political landscape.
