Vice President-Elect JD Vance Submits Resignation From Senate

On Thursday, Vice President-elect JD Vance formally announced that he would resign from his seat in the Senate, effective at midnight.

The Ohio Republican declared his intention to step down in a brief letter sent to his state’s GOP governor, Mike DeWine, less than two weeks before Vance joins President-elect Donald Trump in the White House. Inauguration Day is on January 20.

“To the people of Ohio, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the privilege of representing you in the United States Senate,” Vance said in a statement. “When I was elected to this office, I promised to never forget where I came from, and I’ve made sure to live by that promise every single day.”

He added: “The American people have granted President Trump an undeniable mandate to put America first, both at home and abroad. Over the next four years, I will do all that I can to help President Trump enact his agenda. Together, we will make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.”

Vance won his Senate seat in Ohio during the 2022 election, defeating his Democrat opponent, Tim Ryan. His term was for six years. DeWine is expected to appoint a successor who will hold the seat temporarily, possibly as early as Monday. A special election in 2026 will determine who will serve out the last part of the term.

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Cleveland.com reported that there is speculation that DeWine could pick his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, after they visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last month. Other possibilities are: former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH).

Before announcing his Senate exit, Vance cast one last vote on Thursday to break the filibuster on the “Laken Riley Act,” legislation that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants who are charged with theft-related crimes in the United States.

Other lawmakers are poised to make the jump from Congress to the second Trump administration. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has been nominated to become secretary of state. Trump also tapped some members of the House, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) to be his national security adviser and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.