JD Vance is ready to head to Washington as the newly elected Vice President of the United States, just under two years after his Senate inauguration.

He will officially take office on January 20, making him one of the youngest vice presidents in U.S. history at the age of 40.

Once Vance resigns from the Senate—which could happen shortly before Inauguration Day—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will appoint his replacement. As a fellow Republican and former U.S. senator, DeWine is anticipated to choose a Republican for the role.

The appointee will serve until a special election takes place in November 2026.

Democrats will likely nominate a candidate for the general election, and a Republican primary may occur if there are other GOP candidates interested. The victor of the 2026 election will complete the remainder of Vance’s Senate term, which runs until 2028, with the option to seek reelection in that year.

Who Might Succeed JD Vance in the Senate?

Governor DeWine is being cautious about his choice, valuing the electability of the selected candidate. The Senate remains tightly contested after the recent election, making 2026 potentially challenging for Republicans since they will hold the presidency.

“If Donald Trump wins the election, we will start our process to evaluate candidates,” DeWine told the press last week. “Several people have already reached out to me, and I have met with some at their request.”

Speculations about potential successors started circulating months ago. Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential hopeful, indicated he would “seriously consider” the Senate position, although he is also interested in running for governor in 2026. Another possible candidate is Jane Timken, who previously chaired the Ohio Republican Party and ran for Senate in 2022.

DeWine may also revert to a previous choice: State Senator Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, who lost to Bernie Moreno in this year’s GOP primary despite DeWine’s endorsement. Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who competed against Moreno and Dolan, expressed interest in the potential appointment.

Vance himself refrained from speculating about who might take his Senate seat after casting his vote on Tuesday, saying, “I’m far too superstitious to ponder those matters.”