Jon Husted, top contender to replace J.D. Vance in Senate, spotted hobnobbing at Mar-a-Lago

A leading contender to replace Vice President-elect J.D. Vance in the Senate was spotted hobnobbing at Mar-a-Lago in recent days.

Vance will leave his Ohio Senate seat when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month, leaving his replacement to be chosen by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Both DeWine and Ohio’s Lt. Gov. Jon Husted were on hand at Trump’s golf resort, Fox News reported.

The new Senate will be sworn in on Jan. 3, meaning DeWine’s choice must come in the next few weeks. Husted is believed to be a top contender for the job, the network reported.The Vance replacement issue has long had many Trump world allies nervous. Though DeWine is a Republican, he is known to be deeply skeptical of the incoming president.

He and Trump endorsed rival candidates in the 2022 and 2024 Senate primaries — with both of Trump’s prevailing.

The conventional wisdom holds that DeWine, now at the end of his political career, would install a fellow moderate like State Sen. Matt Dolan, a scion of the storied Dolan family and pass over MAGA die-hards in the mold of Vance.

Attorney Mehek Cooke, Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former Ohio GOP Chair Jane Timken, Rep. Mike Carey are are also reportedly under consideration.