UPDATED: Jon Husted named to Vance's U.S. Senate seat

Gov. Mike DeWine has selected his own Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to become the next senator from Ohio.

Husted will replace JD Vance, who resigned from the Senate last week and will take office as the 50th vice president of the United States on Monday. 

"There were many people who I considered very qualified to serve in the U.S. Senate to represent the State of Ohio, but I came to the conclusion that the best person to serve is a person who has been close to me for the last six years - a person who I work with almost daily -  and that is Lt. Governor Jon Husted," said Governor DeWine. "I have worked with him, I know he is knowledgeable, I know his heart, I know what he cares about, and I know his skills. All of that tells me he is the right person for the job." 

"I know Ohio well, and I will fight for Ohio as a U.S. senator," said Lt. Governor Husted. "I look forward to working with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the Republican majority who have an America First agenda to fight inflation, stop illegal immigration, and advance conservative values."

During his time as Ohio's lieutenant governor, Husted put significant focus on enhancing economic development in Ohio, growing Ohio's workforce, and increasing government efficiency. Husted oversaw the Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI) and served as the director of both the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and InnovateOhio.

Prior to serving in the DeWine Administration, Husted served as Ohio secretary of state, speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, and a member of the Ohio Senate.

"My time here at the Statehouse has been a true joy, but representing Ohio in the U.S. Senate is an amazing opportunity," said Lt. Governor Husted. "It is something that an adopted kid who grew up on County Road J in Montpelier, Ohio, could have never imagined."

Husted started his life in a foster home before being adopted by his loving parents, Jim and Judy. He is the oldest of three children and was raised in Northwest Ohio’s Williams County. He graduated from Montpelier High School and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton.

Husted is married to Tina Husted and is the father of three children, Alex, Katie, and Kylie. His first grandchild, Margaret, was born last year to parents Alex and Kathleen.

Governor DeWine has not yet selected a candidate to fill the lieutenant governor position. Once selected, the individual must be confirmed by both the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives. 

Lt. Governor Jon Husted oversees the Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI) and serves as the Director of both the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and InnovateOhio.

Jon Husted started his life in a foster home before being adopted by his loving parents, Jim and Judy. He is the oldest of three children and was raised in Northwest Ohio’s Williams County. The small community instilled in him the importance of faith, family, and hard work that serve as the foundation of his public service. He graduated from Montpelier High School and earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Dayton (UD).

Jon was an All-American defensive back for the Dayton Flyers and a member of UD’s 1989 Division III National Championship Football Team. After receiving his Master’s Degree, Jon remained in the Miami Valley and served as the Vice-President for Economic Development at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout his time in elected office, Jon has demonstrated repeatedly his ability to get things done that have a positive impact on Ohio and its residents.

As Secretary of State, Jon made it his mission to make Ohio the best state in the Midwest to do business by improving customer services and reducing wait times for entrepreneurs. Under his leadership, the state moved beyond week-long processing of paper forms and made it possible for businesses to interact with the state over the internet with the click of a button. He has also reduced the cost for starting a business in Ohio by 21 percent — making Ohio the least costly state in the Midwest to start and maintain a new business.

In 2017, Secretary Husted announced the efficiencies in his office had not only allowed him to cut the fees the state charged on Ohio entrepreneurs, but also eliminate the need for taxpayer funding for the government office entirely for the remainder of his term in office – a move that has saved taxpayers millions of dollars.

This record of cutting cost and saving money to Ohio’s taxpayers is nothing new. As House Speaker, Jon led the passage of the most conservative state budget in 40 years, which included at the time, the largest income tax cut in Ohio’s history.

Of all his responsibilities, Jon considers his most important role as that to be a loving husband to his wife Tina, and father to Alex, Katie and Kylie.

On November 6, 2018, Jon Husted was elected to serve as Lt. Governor of the State of Ohio. Husted also previously served as Ohio Secretary of State, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, and a member of the Ohio Senate.