Jon Husted

Jon Husted
Born	Jon Allen Husted 25 8, 1967
Birthplace	Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Senator from Ohio, former Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, former Ohio Secretary of State
Education	University of Dayton (BA, MA)
Children	3
Website	[[hustedforohio.com hustedforohio.com] Official site]

Jon Allen Husted (Template:IPAc-en; born August 25, 1967) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Ohio since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Husted has built a career spanning more than two decades in Ohio politics, rising from the state legislature to statewide office and ultimately to the U.S. Senate. He served as the 66th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio from 2019 to 2025 under Governor Mike DeWine, and prior to that as the 50th Ohio Secretary of State from 2011 to 2019. Before holding statewide office, Husted represented the 41st District in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, serving as the 99th Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009, and subsequently represented the 6th District in the Ohio Senate from 2009 to 2011. On January 17, 2025, Governor DeWine appointed Husted to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by JD Vance, who resigned upon becoming Vice President of the United States. Husted was sworn in on January 21, 2025, and is a candidate in the November 2026 special election to serve the remainder of Vance's term.

Early Life

Jon Allen Husted was born on August 25, 1967, in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He grew up in a working-class family and later moved to Ohio, where he would establish his political career. According to profiles published during his time as Secretary of State, Husted has described himself as someone with "small-town roots" and "small-town values," a background that informed his approach to public service and policy.

Husted eventually settled in the Dayton area, where he attended college and became involved in the local community. His connection to the Dayton region would become central to his political identity, as he represented portions of Montgomery County throughout his career in the Ohio General Assembly.

Education

Husted attended the University of Dayton, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree. During his time at the University of Dayton, Husted was a member of the school's football team, playing as a wide receiver for the Dayton Flyers. His experience as a student-athlete at the university cemented his ties to the Dayton community and provided a foundation for his later entry into public life.

Career

Ohio House of Representatives (2001–2009)

Husted began his career in elected office when he won a seat representing the 41st District in the Ohio House of Representatives in November 2000. He succeeded Don Mottley in the seat and took office on January 8, 2001. During his tenure in the Ohio House, Husted rose through the Republican leadership ranks, ultimately being elected as the 99th Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in January 2005, succeeding Larry Householder.

As Speaker, Husted presided over the Ohio House from January 3, 2005, to January 4, 2009. The speakership placed him among the most prominent Republican officeholders in the state and gave him significant influence over the legislative agenda. He served as Speaker for two full terms before being succeeded by Democrat Armond Budish following the 2008 elections, which saw Democrats gain control of the chamber.

Ohio Senate (2009–2011)

After reaching term limits in the Ohio House, Husted transitioned to the Ohio Senate, where he represented the 6th District, encompassing a portion of Montgomery County. He served in the Ohio Senate from January 5, 2009, to January 9, 2011. His predecessor in the seat was Peggy Lehner, who subsequently succeeded him when he departed for statewide office. Husted's brief tenure in the Senate served as a bridge between his House speakership and his successful campaign for Secretary of State.

Ohio Secretary of State (2011–2019)

Husted was elected as the 50th Ohio Secretary of State in 2010, succeeding Democrat Jennifer Brunner. He served under Governor John Kasich and was reelected in 2014.

Election Administration and Voting Policies

As Secretary of State, Husted was Ohio's chief elections officer and became a prominent figure in national debates over voting rights and election administration. His decisions regarding early voting hours, voter registration procedures, and ballot access attracted both support and criticism.

In August 2012, Husted issued a directive regarding early voting hours that generated significant controversy. The directive established uniform early voting hours across Ohio's 88 counties but eliminated extended evening and weekend voting hours that some counties, particularly in urban areas, had previously offered. Critics argued that the policy disproportionately affected minority voters and residents of larger, more Democratic-leaning counties. The New York Times editorial board characterized the policy as discriminatory, writing that Husted's actions represented "overt discrimination" in the state's election procedures. The Columbus Dispatch editorial board weighed in on the controversy, calling on Husted to ensure fairness in ballot administration. Cleveland.com also reported on the controversy surrounding Husted's early voting directive and its impact on ballot board operations.

Another area of dispute during Husted's tenure involved the eligibility of 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio challenged Husted's interpretation of the law, arguing that 17-year-old voters who would turn 18 by the general election should be permitted to vote in the primary. The ACLU contended that Husted's position was at odds with established precedent and Ohio election law. A lawsuit was filed to compel the state to allow these younger voters to participate in the primary.

Husted also addressed concerns about election integrity, framing his efforts around making it "easy to vote and hard to cheat" in Ohio elections. In an opinion piece published in 2016, Husted outlined his philosophy of election administration, arguing that Ohio's system balanced accessibility with security. In 2016, Cleveland.com reported on Husted's broader political ambitions and his tenure as Secretary of State, noting his rising profile within the Republican Party.

In 2014, Husted was involved in a legal dispute that reached the federal courts regarding voter purge practices in Ohio. Cleveland.com reported on the controversy surrounding the state's process for removing inactive voters from the rolls, a practice that opponents argued disenfranchised eligible voters.

Business Filing Modernization

Beyond election administration, Husted oversaw modernization efforts within the Secretary of State's office. In October 2013, he launched Ohio Business Central, an online filing system that allowed businesses to submit forms and registrations electronically rather than through paper-based processes. The system was designed to streamline the process for businesses operating in Ohio and reduce bureaucratic delays. The launch of the system was also covered by The Daily Record.

2018 Gubernatorial Campaign and Lieutenant Governor (2019–2025)

In 2018, Husted initially entered the Republican primary as a candidate for Governor of Ohio. However, he subsequently withdrew from the gubernatorial race and joined the ticket of Attorney General Mike DeWine as his running mate for lieutenant governor. The DeWine-Husted ticket won the 2018 general election, and Husted was inaugurated as the 66th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio on January 14, 2019, succeeding Mary Taylor.

As lieutenant governor, Husted served as a key member of the DeWine administration. The DeWine-Husted ticket won reelection in 2022, and Husted continued serving in the role until his appointment to the U.S. Senate in January 2025. He was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Jim Tressel.

United States Senate (2025–present)

Appointment

On January 17, 2025, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Husted to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by JD Vance, who had resigned to become Vice President of the United States. Husted was sworn in on January 21, 2025, becoming the junior senator from Ohio alongside senior senator Bernie Moreno.

Husted's appointment allows him to serve until a special election scheduled for November 2026, the winner of which will serve the remainder of Vance's original term. Husted has announced his candidacy in the 2026 special election. He received the endorsement of Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber, a fellow Republican, for the special election race.

Campaign Finance Controversies

During his time in the Senate and in the lead-up to the 2026 special election, Husted has faced scrutiny over campaign contributions he received from Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands who has faced public criticism for his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to reporting by Snopes, Husted received more than $100,000 in donations from Wexner over the course of his political career. Wexner acknowledged in a congressional deposition that he may have donated more than $100,000 to Husted's campaigns.

In February 2026, Husted announced that he would donate Wexner's campaign contributions to charity, joining other Ohio elected officials who took similar steps amid renewed public attention to Wexner's ties to Epstein.

FirstEnergy Connections

Husted's name has also emerged in connection with the federal corruption trial related to FirstEnergy and Ohio House Bill 6, the 2019 nuclear energy bailout legislation at the center of one of the largest bribery scandals in Ohio history. According to materials presented during the trial, Husted was mentioned numerous times in testimony and evidence, with text messages and phone calls between Husted and indicted FirstEnergy executives surfacing during proceedings. Ohio Democrats have highlighted these connections, noting that Husted was mentioned 58 times in a single day of trial proceedings and 96 times since the trial began as of February 2026. These revelations have become a significant issue in the 2026 special election campaign. It should be noted that the claims about Husted's involvement have been promoted by the Ohio Democratic Party, a partisan organization, and Husted has not been charged with any crime in connection with the FirstEnergy case.

Personal Life

Husted resides in Upper Arlington, Ohio. He has three children. As an undergraduate at the University of Dayton, Husted played football for the Dayton Flyers as a wide receiver, an experience he has cited in discussions of teamwork and discipline throughout his political career.