COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Republican Governor Mike DeWine is set to announce his selection for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance on Friday. This pivotal decision will gauge the extent of Donald Trump's enduring influence in Ohio, a state that he has successfully won three times in recent elections.

At 78 years old, the term-limited and politically pragmatic DeWine possesses the sole authority to make this appointment. Notably, he has made two recent visits to Mar-a-Lago, home to Trump, suggesting that the discussions regarding the Senate selection took place there. During one of these visits, DeWine was accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, who had been preparing to run for governor in 2026. However, his political trajectory now appears intertwined with that of former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a known ally of Trump.

Initially, Ramaswamy indicated a withdrawal from contention for the Senate seat, largely due to commitments he and Elon Musk have with Trump relating to federal government efficiency. Nevertheless, Ramaswamy met with DeWine at the governor's residence last week to express renewed interest in the vacant Senate position, positioning himself among a growing list of contenders.

The list of contenders for the Senate seat following Vance’s resignation includes several notable Republicans who previously lost their bids in the 2022 or 2024 primaries. Key figures in this competition are Secretary of State Frank LaRose, state Senator Matt Dolan, former state GOP chair Jane Timken, as well as various congressional representatives, statewide officeholders, and political outsiders.

Vance's resignation comes just two years into his six-year term. The individual who is appointed to succeed him will serve until December 15, 2026, and must then win a special election in November 2026 to complete the remaining two years of Vance's term. This special election could see a potential comeback from former Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, who previously lost his re-election campaign to Republican businessman Bernie Moreno last fall.

Both Moreno and Vance benefited significantly from Trump's endorsements that played a crucial role in their ascension to the Senate despite neither having held elected office prior. This connection to Trump illustrates the continued importance of his support in Ohio’s evolving political landscape.