Days after Trump officially tapped Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to be his Vice President speculation is already building around who will fill his Senate seat if the pair are elected to the White House.
In a shocking turn of events, popular conservative Jim Banks threw his support behind tech businessman Vivek Ramaswamy who previously announced his own bid for the White House.
“I hope Vivek is Governor DeWine’s choice. I mean, he’d be a great senator if he wants it,” Banks said, though he pointed out that he is not involved in Ohio politics.
Banks, who is running for the open Senate seat in the deep red state of Indiana, praised the ex-president’s decision and argued Vance would be an appropriate standard-bearer for the movement Trump has created within the GOP.
“Donald Trump is the leader, not just of the party, but of the America First movement. And I think Donald Trump picking JD Vance was not just picking his running mate, not just picking his vice president, but really putting someone forward who’s going to represent the future of our party and our movement,” Banks told Fox News Digital. “And JD Vance is the perfect person for that.”
“I would strongly consider it if I were asked to serve,” he said of the Senate seat that would be vacated if Donald Trump were elected president and Vance elected vice president.
“I have not discussed this with Gov. DeWine but, you know, I look forward to evaluating what the future holds in store. I would strongly consider it if asked,” Ramaswamy told NBC.
Fox News noted other potential candidates to fill the possible vacancy are Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio) who is close with both Trump and DeWine, and state Sen. Matt Dolan, who DeWine endorsed in the Republican primary against Vance.
Ramaswamy noted that he’s been in recent contact with Trump and has discussed different ways he may serve in the future Administration.
“We’ve talked about a lot of different possibilities, President Trump and I. I mean, we talk regularly. I spoke to him, actually most recently, it was after midnight on the night that he suffered that injury, tragedy, assassination attempt on Saturday night,” he said.
“So, we‘ve talked about different ideas, potentially, in a cabinet or other ways of driving change,” he added.
On Monday, Trump announced his choice for vice president on Truth Social. (RELATED: Donald Trump Picks J.D. Vance As His Running Mate)
Trump’s decision to select the “Hillbilly Elegy” author sent shockwaves through the Biden camp.
Ashley Etienne, VP Kamala Harris’ former communications director, made comments during a June appearance on CNN, labeling Vance has the “greatest threat to Harris.”
Watch:
“I think J.D. Vance would pose the greatest threat to Kamala Harris,” Etienne told host Laura Coates. “I mean, he’s an incredible debater. I think he has this quality that makes him seem palpable to that 1 to 2 percent that actually might vote or that’s undecided, that will actually pay attention to the debates because most people don’t pay attention to the debates.”
“I think he’s just got a quality about him where he’s super smart and sharp and quick-witted. I just think they’d like it, I think it’s going to be a challenge to see the two of them face-to-face. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but I think he’s gonna be the greatest threat,” she continued.
