Jon Husted

Jon Allen Husted (/hjuːstɛd/ HEW-sted; born August 25, 1967) is an American politician serving since 2025 as the junior United States senator from Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he served from 2019 to 2025 as the 66th lieutenant governor of Ohio and from 2011 to 2019 as the 50th Ohio secretary of state.

Raised in Montpelier, Ohio, Husted graduated from the University of Dayton and began his political career in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served from 2001 to 2009. During his last four years in the chamber, he was the 99th speaker of the House. He served in the Ohio Senate from 2009 to 2011 before serving as secretary of state.

In 2018, Husted launched a campaign for governor of Ohio but withdrew from the Republican primary to join Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's ticket as the candidate for lieutenant governor. DeWine and Husted were elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022.

On January 17, 2025, Husted was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy left by JD Vance after he became vice president. Husted was sworn in on January 21, 2025, and is running to complete the remainder of Vance's term in the 2026 United States Senate special election in Ohio. He won the Republican nomination in March 2026 and faces Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown in November.

Early life and education

Husted was born on August 25, 1967, in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Shortly after his birth, he was put up for adoption, as his biological father did not want him and his biological mother was unable to care for him. He was adopted by James and Judith Husted, and raised in Montpelier, Ohio, as the oldest of three children.

Husted graduated from Montpelier High School in 1985. He earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of Dayton.

Early career

While completing his master's degree at the University of Dayton, Husted was offered a job on the football coaching staff at the University of Toledo, but instead chose to work on a local political campaign. He stayed in the Dayton area and worked for Montgomery County Commissioner Don Lucas. He later became Vice President of Business and Economic Development at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, a position he held until running for state representative in 2000.

Husted ran for office in 2000 in a five-way race, defeating his closest opponent by more than 12% of the vote. He went on to serve as speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and a state senator.

Secretary of State of Ohio (2011–2019)

Husted was elected Ohio Secretary of State in 2010, defeating Democratic nominee Maryellen O'Shaughnessy by nearly 500,000 votes. He was reelected in 2014, defeating Democratic nominee Nina Turner by over 700,000 votes.

In this role, Husted served as the state's chief elections official. The office also serves as the filing location for new businesses in Ohio.

Financial management

During his tenure as Ohio Secretary of State, Husted reduced the office's budget by $14.5 million and eliminated the jobs of approximately one-third of its staff. The office had operated with a surplus for several years. In 2016, Husted requested that his office receive no taxpayer funding for the remainder of his term and instead use existing funds.

Election administration

As Ohio's chief elections official, Husted oversaw election administration policies including early voting schedules and rules governing absentee and provisional ballots. Voting rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, criticized some of these policies as restrictive and challenged them in court.

Shortly after taking office, Husted set uniform days and hours for early voting across the state, replacing a system that had allowed county boards of elections to set their own schedules. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Husted said the change was intended to ensure that voters were treated consistently across the state. Democratic officials, including Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern, criticized the change and said it could reduce access in some areas, while Republican officials said the directive provided adequate early voting opportunities.

The Elections Performance Index published by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows fluctuations in Ohio's average wait times compared to other states during Husted's tenure. The state ranked 29th out of 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 2012, rose to 13th in 2014, fell to 21st in 2016, and rose to 17th in 2018. The state's ranking continued to fluctuate after his tenure, finishing 34th in 2020 and 24th in 2022.

In March 2016, the ACLU of Ohio sent Husted's office a letter about whether 17-year-olds who would turn 18 by the general election could vote in the presidential primary. The issue was subsequently litigated, and on March 11, an Ohio judge ruled that such voters could participate in the primary.

Husted was the defendant in litigation over Ohio's voter roll maintenance practices. In Husted v. Randolph Institute, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled 5–4 in favor of Ohio's procedures.

Business services

Husted reduced the fee for starting a new business in Ohio and partnered with Google's "Get Your Business Online" initiative to provide digital resources for small businesses.

In 2015, the secretary of state's office closed its in-house business call center and contracted services to the Cleveland Sight Center.

Opposition to pay-to-play for school extra-curricular activities

Husted expressed opposition to pay-to-participate fees for extracurricular activities in Ohio schools, including sports and band. He supported legislative efforts by State Senator Cliff Hite to restrict school districts' ability to charge participation fees, though the legislation did not advance.

Lieutenant Governor of Ohio (2019–2025)

Husted ran in the Republican primary to succeed John Kasich as governor of Ohio. In November 2017, he ended his campaign and became Mike DeWine's running mate. After winning, DeWine announced that Husted would lead the newly created InnovateOhio.

In January 2021, Senator Rob Portman announced that he would not seek reelection, and Husted was considered a potential candidate. He later said he would not seek the seat.

In July 2024, Husted nominated Senator JD Vance for vice president at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Ohio FirstEnergy bribery case

In March 2026, Husted testified for the defense in the criminal trial of former FirstEnergy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling related to the Ohio FirstEnergy bribery scandal, the largest corruption case in Ohio history. Testifying remotely, Husted said he was present at a dinner meeting in 2018 with then governor-elect DeWine and two FirstEnergy executives who were later indicted in a $60 million bribery scheme to pass House Bill 6, which provided $500 million in state bailout funds for nuclear and coal power plants.

In 2017, FirstEnergy had donated $1 million earmarked "Husted campaign" to Freedom Frontier, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that does not disclose its donors. A Husted spokesperson said that the campaign had not received the donation.

The FirstEnergy scandal led to a 20-year sentence for former Ohio House of Representatives speaker Larry Householder and charges for three others involved in bribery in 2021. Husted's 2026 testimony was part of a related trial of FirstEnergy executives that resulted in a mistrial in March 2026 and is scheduled for retrial in September 2026.

U.S. Senate (2025–present)

Appointment

On January 17, 2025, Governor DeWine announced his appointment of Husted to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by JD Vance following his resignation to serve as vice president of the United States. Husted had originally declined the potential appointment and intended to run for governor in 2026.

Tenure

On January 21, 2025, Husted and former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody were sworn in by Vice President JD Vance. Husted was escorted by DeWine and fellow Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno. His appointment lasts until a special election in November 2026.

2026 special election

Husted is running in the November 2026 special election to serve the remainder of Vance's U.S. Senate term.

Federal appliance efficiency rule repeal

In 2025, Husted sponsored a Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal a Biden administration rule related to energy efficiency standards for household appliances. The rule, issued by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2024, established updated certification, labeling, and enforcement requirements for various appliances, including air conditioners, washing machines, and pool heaters.

The resolution passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2025 and the U.S. Senate in April, and was signed into law in May. The repeal eliminated federal requirements for certification and labeling tied to the rule, as well as associated compliance and reporting obligations for manufacturers.

Supporters of the repeal, including Husted, argued that the rule imposed unnecessary regulatory burdens on manufacturers and could increase costs for consumers. Opponents contended that removing the requirements could weaken federal energy efficiency standards and reduce long-term consumer savings associated with more efficient appliances.

Committee assignments

Husted was assigned to the following committees for the 2025–2026 term:

• Committee on Aging (Special)
• Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Education and the American Family Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Political positions

Education

Husted has supported school choice policies in Ohio, including charter schools and programs that expand access to private and religious education.

Husted was among Ohio officials who received campaign contributions from individuals associated with the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT), a large online charter school that later closed amid findings that it had overreported student attendance.

Elections

As Ohio Secretary of State, Husted described his approach to elections as making it "easy to vote and hard to cheat", and supported policies including standardized early voting hours and voter roll maintenance practices.

His tenure included legal disputes over election procedures, including voter roll maintenance policies that were upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in Husted v. Randolph Institute.

Foreign policy

In 2025, Husted supported sanctions against Russia, unless Russia pursued a "lasting peace" with Ukraine.

Husted voted against war powers resolutions intended to limit President Trump's ability to wage the 2026 Iran war without congressional consent.

Electoral history

*2000 election notes: Richard Hartmann received 3,934 votes, Bryan Carey (L) received 904 votes and Charles Turner (N) received 705 votes.

Personal life

Jon Husted married his wife, Tina, in 2005. He is the father of three children. The Husted family lives in the Columbus-area suburb of Upper Arlington.

External links

• official U.S. Senate website
• October 2, 2011, at theWayback Machine at Project Vote Smart
• onC-SPAN
• at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• at the Federal Election Commission
• at the Library of Congress
• at Vote Smart