COLUMBUS, Ohio (Diya TV) — Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is considering potential candidates to replace Vice President-elect JD Vance in the U.S. Senate after his upcoming transition to the White House. Among them is Mehek Cooke, an Indian American attorney and a prominent Trump supporter, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous due to the nature of the situation.
Cooke was a political surrogate for Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign and earned recognition for her fundraising skills and outspoken support for Trump. This included appearances on Fox News and efforts to mobilize Ohio voters, who surged 11 points in favor of Trump.
Under Ohio state law, DeWine must name a Republican to temporarily fill Vance’s seat until a special election is held in November 2026. The winner of that election will serve out the remainder of Vance’s term, which runs until 2028, and will need to run again that year for a full six-year term.
Cooke has a ton of legal and political experience. She earlier served as assistant chief counsel to the Ohio governor’s office and has served as an attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, focused upon significant criminal cases dealing with corruption, terrorism, and money laundering. Apart from her legal career, Cooke has filed nominations for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2020 and is the owner of American Frontier Strategies, a political consulting firm.
Cooke’s potential candidacy has been supported by influential people in Ohio. Ohio business leader Marty Savko expressed his appreciation for Cooke as “a very grounded and compassionate leader.”
“She’s in touch with the average Ohioan, and she’s committed to doing what’s right,” Savko said to Fox News. “She’s not part of any political clique, and she makes decisions based on what’s best for the people, not the party.”
Other prominent Republicans being mentioned for Vance’s Senate seat include former Ohio Republican Party chair Jane Timken, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. However, both Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost are believed to be focused on the race for governor next year to replace DeWine.
Though DeWine is said to like the idea of having a female, various sources indicate that the choice will not be influenced by gender. Cooke’s candidacy is exceptional in that she shares strong similarities with Trump’s agenda and can establish herself among the conservatives of Ohio.
Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022, is set to vacate the position as he assumes the role of vice president in the Trump administration.
