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The race is on to replace JD Vance in the U.S. Senate

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The race is on to replace JD Vance in the U.S. Senate


COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been busy — having calls and meeting with U.S. Senate hopefuls trying to take Vice President-elect JD Vance’s seat in the nation’s capital.

President-elect Donald Trump and Vance are set to take office in mid-January, but another race is heating up.

“Some people have already contacted me,” DeWine said during a press conference before the election. “I’ve already met with some people — at their request.”

DeWine has a big decision to make. Vance will need to resign from his coveted Senate seat, and the governor will appoint his replacement.

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Back in July, I asked him about the qualities that he wants to an appointee.

Here’s what qualities Gov. Mike DeWine wants to see in his next U.S. Senate appointment

Here’s what qualities Gov. Mike DeWine wants to see in his next U.S. Senate appointment

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“I’ll look for someone who wants to get things done every day and will stay focused on it — It’s a tough job, it’s not an easy job,” DeWine told me in July. “We also have to have someone who will be able to stay there a while.”

Building up seniority is important, and a lawmaker can become more effective the longer they stay there, he said.

Republican strategist Bob Clegg said the governor has a lot of options in front of him — but one stands out the most.

“Vivek,” Clegg said. “Same age, same background… He’s coming into politics within the last two years.”

Ramaswamy’s team has told us previously that he wasn’t able to do an interview and we didn’t hear back from him Wednesday. But he told Politico that he was interested.

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“If I were asked to serve, I would strongly consider it,” he said.

DeWine could also choose someone with more in common with his own ideology and mild-mannered personality, Clegg said.

“I think he’s got somebody like Jane Timken who wouldn’t fit the typical appointment but is the kind of Republican that he feels comfortable with,” the strategist said.

Jane Timken is a Trump ally who ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 and is currently the RNC Committeewoman for Ohio. She didn’t respond to comment Wednesday, but before the election, she told me that it was too early to talk about the vacancy.

The governor said he isn’t sure about the timeline for naming a replacement yet, since Vance still needs to resign his seat. But we do know he has plenty of candidates to choose from.

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“We’ve got a few people interested,” DeWine said, laughing.

Onto the names

This list is not exhaustive and only reflects the views of two dozen Ohio political insiders in different offices and professions. Individuals will likely come out of the woodwork to express interest to the governor. This is an updated list to our original from when Vance was announced as the VP candidate. Each of the individuals on this list has been mentioned to me more than five times.

Former candidates

Jane Timken

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As mentioned, Timken is one of the most popular names referenced.

Not only does she have a good relationship with institutional Republicans like Rob Portman, but she also appeals to MAGA-esque conservatives.

She would also be the first female U.S. Senator in Ohio history.

Matt Dolan

Clegg had originally thought in July that state Sen. Matt Dolan seemed like an obvious pick but changed his mind this time around. Still, dozens of politicos still suggest Dolan.

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The governor endorsed Dolan in the last U.S. Senate Republican primary, but he finished second to Bernie Moreno.

Dolan’s spokesperson denied to comment Wednesday, but previously told us that the senator was focused on the general election.

Frank LaRose

Sec. of State Frank LaRose was mentioned as a possibility. He ran and came in third for the 2024 Republican U.S. Senate nomination. However, Vance and Donald Trump Jr. have routinely criticized and insulted LaRose on social media. It is unclear if that could play into DeWine’s decision.

His team has previously not responded to comment.

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Statewide names

Vivek Ramaswamy, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost

Ramaswamy, despite not having run for U.S. Senate before, was also proposed by a dozen insiders.

This could be a political play for the governor.

Ramaswamy, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost are all expected to run for governor in 2026.

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By appointing Ramaswamy, Husted (or Yost) could have a thinner primary battle.

“If you’re Jon, what do you think you’re saying to Mike DeWine?” Clegg said, suggesting that Husted wants to clear the field. “What advice are you giving him on who to appoint?”

Husted, DeWine’s second-in-command, has been in politics for more than two decades. He has served as the secretary of state, speaker of the House and state senator.

Although not as frequently brought up as Yost was, Husted is being floated. That being said, appointing Husted could give the LG more name recognition for his gubernatorial run in 2026.

“Today is about celebrating a historic comeback by President Trump and Ohio’s new Senator, Bernie Moreno,” Husted’s spokesperson Hayley Carducci said. “I am sure Governor DeWine, President Trump and Vice President Vance will have a conversation, but today is about celebrating a great victory for Ohio and the America-First movement.”

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Yost has been floated the most of the statewide officials.

Yost is also a longtime politician, starting behind the scenes and then working as Delaware County auditor and then prosecutor. Before becoming AG, he was the state auditor.

However, the AG doesn’t want the position and would decline it, his team told me.

“We’re blessed to have a number of candidates who would make a great U.S. senator alongside Senator-Elect Bernie Moreno,” Yost’s campaign spokesperson Amy Natoce said. “Attorney General Yost has always felt called to an executive office, and is actively raising money for a 2026 run for governor.”

Robert Sprague

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Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague was brought up by Clegg and numerous other politicos.

Sprague has been working in politics for years. He previously was a member of the Ohio House. Prior, he served as the Findlay auditor and treasurer.

“They’re on the younger side and could do the job and do it well,” Clegg said about Sprague and Husted.

“It is certainly flattering to be a part of that conversation, particularly as the Treasurer considers how he will continue to serve his fellow Ohioans,” Sprague’s campaign spokesperson Dalton Throckmorton said.

Sitting members of Congress

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Dave Joyce

Congressman Dave Joyce has been a member of Congress since 2013, representing Northeast Ohio. He is a moderate with views closely aligned with DeWine’s. He chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

His team did not respond to comment Wednesday, but a source familiar told me that Joyce’s name has come up.

Mike Carey

Congressman Mike Carey was mentioned repeatedly. Carey has been a member of Congress since 2021, representing parts of Columbus and central Ohio. He is known as being slightly more conservative than Joyce. He is the chairman of the House Communications Standards Commission.

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“I think of all the congressmen, I think Mike would be the obvious one,” Clegg said.

He didn’t respond to comment.

DeWine’s pick

The choice will likely come before the end of the year. A resignation before the new class of senators takes office helps a new senator get seniority over the elected ones.

“The timeline will be dictated by when Vice President-elect Vance decides to make his resignation effective,” DeWine’s spokesperson Dan Tierney told me Wednesday.

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During the press conference before the election, DeWine said the appointment announcement could even come within a few days.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.





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Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN

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Ex-husband arrested in deaths of Ohio dentist and his wife | CNN


The ex-husband of Monique Tepe has been arrested in connection with the killings of the mother and her husband Spencer Tepe, a respected dentist, in their Ohio home last week, Columbus police said Saturday.

Michael David McKee, 39, who court records identify as Monique Tepe’s ex-husband, is in custody in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to inmate records with the sheriff’s office.

McKee is scheduled to appear in court Monday, records show. He was arrested on two counts of murder in the killings on Saturday, an incident report shows, and was taken into custody “without incident” in Rockford, Illinois, police said.

Spencer Tepe, 37, and Monique Tepe, 39, were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds on December 30 in their house in Columbus. The couple’s two children, ages 4 and 1, were also inside but were not physically harmed, police said.

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The arrest marks a major development in the case after the suspect in the couple’s killings remained on the loose for more than 10 days, during which police released scant details on the investigation.

Police said Saturday they will release further information “as appropriate” to avoid compromising the “active and ongoing case progress” and urged people to contact them with any information related to the tragedy.

Authorities did not find any obvious signs of forced entry or any firearm at the scene, CNN affiliate WSYX reported.

Colleagues in Spencer Tepe’s dental practice called 911 after he uncharacteristically didn’t show up to work. One of Tepe’s friends went to the couple’s house, peered inside and saw a gruesome scene next to a bed, according to emergency dispatch audio.

“There’s … there’s a body,” the friend told 911. “Our friend wasn’t answering his phone. We just did a wellness check. We just came here. And he appears dead.”

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Asked if Tepe had been ill, the friend responded, “No, no. I was just with him yesterday.”

The couple’s two children and dog are now in the care of relatives, the Tepes’ brother-in-law said.



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Ohio high school girls basketball scores: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026

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Ohio high school girls basketball scores: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026


CLEVELAND, Ohio — OHSAA girls basketball scores from Friday in Ohio, as provided by The Associated Press.

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, Mich. 43, Notre Dame Academy 35

Baltimore Liberty Union 47, Cols. Hamilton Twp. 34

Berlin Center Western Reserve 68, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 46

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Blanchester 40, Bethel-Tate 37

Chagrin Falls 37, Burton Berkshire 32

Circleville 62, Amanda-Clearcreek 40

Cle. Hay 88, Cle. Glenville 2

Cols. Centennial 78, Columbus International 50

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Cols. Linden-McKinley 54, Cols. Whetstone 28

Cols. Walnut Ridge 73, Cols. Marion-Franklin 12

Delaware Buckeye Valley 50, CSG 43

Delta 48, Bryan 44

Dublin Coffman 47, Cols. Upper Arlington 39

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Hilliard Darby 43, Thomas Worthington 32

Johnstown 47, Johnstown Northridge 41

Mason 54, Cin. Colerain 32

Newark 56, Ashville Teays Valley 42

Oak Harbor 52, Millbury Lake 31

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Ohio Deaf 50, Ky. School for the Deaf, Ky. 9

Pemberville Eastwood 65, Rossford 35

Pickerington North 41, New Albany 33

Springboro 66, Centerville 33

Stryker 54, Montpelier 20

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W. Chester Lakota W. 76, Fairfield 24

Wauseon 55, Swanton 13

Western Reserve Academy 65, Lawrenceville School, N.J. 33

Westerville Cent. 57, Grove City Cent. Crossing 20

Worthington Christian 57, Tree of Life 16

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Zanesville 58, Newark Licking Valley 40



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Ohio State students hone academic, business skills through study abroad programs

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Ohio State students hone academic, business skills through study abroad programs


Students across various majors at The Ohio State University recently gathered at the Fisher College of Business to discuss how study abroad opportunities have helped them hone skills that will benefit their studies and chosen career paths.

Fisher’s Office of Global Business and its Office of Advancement hosted the inaugural Global Experience Luncheon. The event was held at the Blackwell Inn on the Columbus campus.

The luncheon brought together alumni who have donated to study abroad programs with students who have participated in them, said Dominic DiCamillo, senior director of the Office of Global Business.

“We were excited to partner with Advancement for the first time to facilitate this type of personal connection. The families that have created these endowments, oftentimes, they hoped it would have some sort of positive impact,” he said. “This is the first time for them to hear firsthand from the students who recently participated.”

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Xin Lin, a third-year finance student, shared her experiences studying abroad in Hamburg, Germany, and Chiang Mai, Thailand. While in Germany in summer 2024, Lin completed the Fisher Freshman Global Lab with Professor Michael Knemeyer and studied at the Kühne Logistics University.

During Lin’s semester in Germany, her cohort toured the facilities of several international companies, including the Mercedes-Benz auto manufacturer, Seven Senders logistics enterprise, and Jack Wolfskin outdoor apparel.

“This was my first time being in Europe,” she said. “It was a really eye-opening experience and taught me to be curious about exploring other cultures, which is why I made the decision to study abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand.”

This past summer in Chiang Mai, Lin completed the competitive Fisher Global Consulting: Nonprofit program, which is funded by an endowment established by Chris Connor, a 1978 Ohio State alumnus, and his wife, Sara. The participating students, called Connor Scholars, gain firsthand insights into the cultures and business practices of countries in developing regions worldwide.

“We were there for two weeks working on the sustainability and the marketing for the local elephant foundation, as well as to support the villagers,” she said. “And my team and I, we worked on the sustainability curriculum for the local school.”

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Lin said participating in study abroad programs sharpened her decision-making and problem-solving skills.

“Leveraging these experiences has strengthened my understanding of international business and macroeconomics,” she said. “Most importantly, it is the growth mindset and the endless learning that these experiences have taught me, and I’m really excited to be carrying these values into my future career and my academic journey.”

Jacob Brodson, a fourth-year marketing major, said participating in the Fisher Global Marketing Lab in Taiwan this past summer was “a transformational, life-changing trip.”

Jacob Brodson (center) said he met more than 25 Ohio State alumni in Taiwan.“If you can go to someplace that’s so fundamentally different from what we experience here on a day-to-day basis, you should absolutely take the opportunity to,” he said. “And Taiwan is that opportunity.”

Brodson said studying marketing and visiting 10 companies in Taiwan gave him a broader perspective on business practices in different countries.

“We went to TSMC, which is the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. That’s the 10th largest company in the world that you probably have never heard of, but they make all the phone and computer chips that are in your cellphones,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience to see that.”

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Brodson and his classmates also toured a Kenda Tire facility.

“They actually do a lot of marketing at Ohio State sporting events because their U.S. headquarters is out in Reynoldsburg,” Brodson said. “We got to see their entire manufacturing plant in Taiwan.”

Brodson said he was pleasantly surprised to discover a Buckeye community overseas. He met more than 25 Ohio State alumni throughout Taiwan.

“We are halfway across the world and yet the most beautiful thing is that there are still reminders of home. We’re halfway across the country and there are still Buckeyes there,” he said. “That is one of the coolest things – seeing the Ohio State alumni and the fact that this Buckeye tradition transcends countries.”

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