Washington — President-elect Donald Trump returns home. After winning a decisive victory in the 2024 election, he will run for the White House next year. And he plans to bring in a number of lawmakers to round out his administration. Senator J.D. Vance as next vice president to Rep. Elise Stefanik As the person he nominated as ambassador to the United Nations
Accordingly, lawmakers must vacate their seats after the new National Assembly begins in January and accelerate the replacement process. The process is different for both chambers and states.
Here’s how to fill the vacancy:
Filling Senate Vacancy
Rules for how to fill Senate vacancies vary from state to state. In 45 states, the governor appoints a successor to serve until the next election, while five states – Kentucky, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin – fill vacancies through emergency special elections.
Trump named Vance, an Ohio Republican who was first elected to the Senate in 2022, as his running mate in July, prompting him to leave the Senate to take on the vice president’s post after the election. And Trump expected Nominate Senator Marco Rubio of Florida for Secretary of State, a Cabinet position that requires Senate confirmation.
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In Florida and Ohio, the governor appoints a successor to serve until the next statewide election. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis will appoint someone Fill each seat until a special election is held in 2026. The winner of the 2026 election will serve out the remainder of Vance and Rubio’s terms, meaning that person will have to run again in the 2028 election.
DeWine and DeSantis both have a long history with Trump, and the Ohio governor is one of the few prominent Republicans who has refused to support Trump’s 2024 bid. And DeSantis’ relationship with Trump was equally frosty. This is after the two faced off in the Republican presidential primary earlier this year. But both Republican governors are expected to work in their party’s best interests, especially after Trump’s decisive victory.
It is not yet known who the governor will appoint to replace Vance and Rubio. In Ohio, names such as Secretary of State Frank LaRose, State Senator Matt Dolan, and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken have been mentioned, along with many members of Congress who represent Ohio in the House of Representatives.
In Florida, a variety of possibilities emerged. appoint DeSantis; Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, was also included. DeSantis’ chief of staff James Utheier and Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez were also named, as were Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and former Florida House Speaker Jose Olivia.
Filling vacancies in your home
Vacancies in the House of Representatives are filled by special elections. However, the timing of elections may vary.
erase Stefanik was selectedThe current Republican Party chairman is preparing for a special election to fill the seat representing New York’s 21st Congressional District to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. The district, which Stefanik won by more than 20 points in his re-election bid last week, is heavily red, making it a safe seat for Republicans in the special election. But it will remain vacant until a special election, which is set by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and could take up to 90 days, leaves Republicans with what is expected to be a slim majority in the House.
Representative Michael Waltz, representing Trump selected To serve as his national security adviser, he represents the solidly red state of Florida. His seat will also be filled in a special election, and DeSantis is expected to work to quickly set a date to replace him.
