COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With Lt. Gov. Jon Husted stepping into the Senate vacancy left by newly inaugurated Vice President J.D. Vance, Gov. Mike DeWine has another important seat to fill. Ohio needs a new lieutenant governor. Husted was selected to fill Vance's unexpired Senate term on Jan. 17, and he will represent Ohio until a 2026 special election. Husted has served as Ohio's lieutenant governor since 2019, and was Ohio's Secretary of State from 2011-2019. Former professors of J.D. Vance weight in on swearing in According to the Ohio Constitution, the governor nominates a new lieutenant governor in the event of a vacancy, who must then be confirmed by the state House and Senate. In a typical term, the lieutenant governor is elected alongside the governor. Husted's replacement will serve the rest of his term, which will end in January 2027 after the 2026 gubernatorial election. See previous coverage of Husted's appointment to the Senate in the video player above. DeWine has yet to indicate a timeline for a nominee and told NBC4's Natalie Fahmy last week that he was focusing on one major decision at a time, referring to the Senate selection. However, the frontrunner seems to be Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. Although Ohio billionaire and DOGE appointee Vivek Ramaswamy appeared to join Husted as finalists in the Senate decision, some threw out Mihalik's name early in discussions of who might replace Vance. Former state GOP chair Jane Timken, U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and former state Rep. Jay Edwards were also named as possible Vance successors, NBC reported. Mihalik has also not indicated a run for governor in 2026, which Ramaswamy, Sprague, early Ohio COVID-19 lockdown leader Dr. Amy Acton and Attorney General Dave Yost have all at least hinted toward. Husted previously voiced interest in the role, and DeWine is term-limited and cannot run again. Columbus funding for homeless programs in jeopardy Mihalik was appointed by DeWine in 2019, before which she served as mayor of Findlay. She is also a close ally of DeWine's, and the two have worked together on a number of projects. A representative for Mihalik and the Department of Development said they could not comment on unofficial matters. A representative for DeWine's office said the governor has not named any potential replacements and said any rumored names are speculative. When asked about a possible timeline, the governor's office said none has been announced.