FIRST ON FOX: Ohio’s new Senator-designate, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, wants to get the country “to a more fiscally responsible path” and is bringing his years of state government experience to the upper chamber. 

“Look, as a fiscal conservative, I always want to move America on to 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 Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to be the next senator. 

Husted will take over Vice President-elect JD Vance’s vacated Senate seat and run in a special election in 2026 to determine who will serve the remainder of his term. 

DOGE CAUCUS PLANS FOR BIGGEST IMPACT, EYEING KEY TOOLS TO EXPEDITE CUTTING WASTE

The lieutenant governor said he plans to run both in 2026 and again when Vance’s seat is up for re-election in 2028. 

As a “fiscal conservative,” one issue sure to test Husted upon arriving at the Senate is President-elect Trump’s desire to raise the debt ceiling. 

“Look, I’ll get into all of those issues once I take the oath,” he said. 

“In state government, we have to balance our budget,” Husted explained.  

OHIO GOV DEWINE PICKS LT GOV TO FILL VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JD VANCE’S VACANT SEAT

“If you want to cut taxes, you got to cut spending. And that’s what I’m accustomed to. And that’s the attitude I’ll take into the process of being a U.S. senator.”

He acknowledged that America’s debt and spending problem can’t be remedied with a “magic wand,” but added, “you’ve got to start somewhere.” 

Husted’s appointment comes as the Trump transition team is currently pressing forward with key nominees for his Cabinet. Many of them have been meeting with senators for months ahead of their confirmation hearings and committee votes. 

Asked about coming in right in the middle of this process, he told Fox News Digital, “I think it’s a good list of nominees.”

DESANTIS ANNOUNCES CHOICE FOR SENATE APPOINTMENT AFTER RUBIO’S EXPECTED RESIGNATION

“Remember, you know, I’m taking Vance’s seat. I’m an ally of the Trump administration, and I’m going to help support those nominees and get them confirmed as quickly as we can,” the senator-designate emphasized. 

The first confirmation votes for Trump nominees are expected to take place on Monday evening following the inauguration. 

It’s unclear who will run against Husted in the 2026 special election, but the seat is expected to be one of the Democrats’ top targets after losing former Sen. Sherrod Brown’s seat in November. 

CONFIRMATION DELAYS STACK UP FOR TRUMP NOMINEES AS PAPERWORK LAGS IN FEDERAL OFFICES

Brown has been speculated as a candidate for Vance’s seat, and he previously dismissed questions from Fox News Digital about whether he’d launch a campaign for it. 

Following the news of Husted’s appointment on Friday, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) spokesman David Bergstein said in a statement, “The start of the 2026 cycle has quickly been defined by new weak spots emerging in Senate Republicans’ already challenging map. Ohio’s special election adds another seat and another controversial candidate the GOP will have to protect — and it means Senate Republicans are starting the cycle having to play even more defense.”