Ohio’s next senator, ‘fiscal conservative’, aims to ‘get government out of people’s lives’
FIRST ON FOX: new candidate for Ohio senator, Lt. Governor Jon Hustedhe wants to get the country “on a more fiscally responsible path” and brings his years of experience in state government to the upper house.
“Look, as a fiscal conservative, I always want to move America on a more fiscally responsible path and I want to get government out of people’s lives,” he told Fox News Digital in an exclusive first interview after being appointed by the governor. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, will be the next senator.
Husted will take over as vice president-elect JD Vance vacated the Senate seat and is running in a special election in 2026 to determine who will serve out the remainder of his term.
DOGE CAUCUS PLANS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT, CONSIDERING KEY TOOLS TO ACCELERATE WASTE REDUCTION
Husted was named Ohio’s next senator on Friday. (Getty Images)
The deputy governor said yes he plans to run and 2026 and again when Vance’s seat is up for re-election in 2028.
As a “fiscal conservative,” one of the issues that will surely test Husted upon his arrival in the Senate is President-elect Trump’s desire to raise the debt ceiling.
“Look, I’m going to get into all these issues when I’m sworn in,” he said.
“In state government, we have to balance our budget,” Husted explained.
OHIA GOV DEWINE CHOSEN LT GOV TO FILL VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JD VANCE’S VACATION
U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) walks into the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill on April 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“If you want to cut taxes, you have to cut spending. And that’s what I’m used to. And that’s the position I’ll take in the process when I’m a U.S. senator.”
He acknowledged that the US debt and spending problem cannot be solved with a “magic wand”, but added that “you have to start somewhere”.
Husted’s appointment comes as Trump’s transition team is currently working with key nominees for his cabinet. Many of them have been meeting with senators for months before their confirmation hearings and committee votes.
Asked if he would come right in the middle of this process, he told Fox News Digital: “I think it’s a good list of nominees.”
DESANTIS ANNOUNCES SENATE APPOINTMENT AFTER EXPECTED RESIGNATION OF RUBIO
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Husted as his Senate pick. (Reuters)
“Remember, you know, I’m taking Vance’s seat. I’m an ally of the Trump administration and I’m going to help support these candidates and get them confirmed as quickly as possible,” the senatorial candidate stressed.
The first confirmation votes for Trump’s nominees are expected to take place Monday night after the inauguration.
It’s unclear who will run against Husted in the 2026 special election, but the seat is expected to be a top target for Democrats after they lost the seat to former Sen. Sherrod Brown in November.
CONFIRMATION DELAYS PILE UP FOR TRUMP’S NOMINATION DUE TO PAPERWORK DELAYS AT FEDERAL OFFICES
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, walks through the U.S. Capitol in July. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Brown has been speculated to be a contender for Vance’s seat, and he previously dismissed questions from Fox News Digital about whether he would campaign for it.
Following the news of Husted’s nomination on Friday, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spokesman David Bergstein said in a statement: “The start of the 2026 cycle is quickly defined by new weak spots that have emerged in an already challenging Republican Senate map. The uniqueness of Ohio’s election adds one more seat and one more controversial candidate the GOP will have to protect — and that means Senate Republicans have to play even more defense as they begin the cycle.”
