Vice President-elect J.D. Vance underwent surgery on Friday at George Washington Hospital. The procedure, described as “long-planned, minor sinus surgery,” was confirmed by his spokesperson William Martin. “The Vice President-elect will be back at work tomorrow,” Martin told Fox News.
The surgery, which had not been publicly announced in advance, took place after Vance attended the swearing-in ceremony for new senators on Capitol Hill. During the event, Vance celebrated the induction of two new Republican senators—Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania.
I was proud to stand with @berniemoreno and @DaveMcCormickPA as they were sworn in to the US Senate. Congrats to them and to all of our new senators! pic.twitter.com/nnQFFsbNiA
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 3, 2025
Moreno’s win in November ousted Democrat Sherrod Brown, further strengthening Republican ranks in the Senate.
Key Role in the New Administration
As Vice President, Vance is expected to take on significant responsibilities in the upcoming administration. “He’s going to be involved in a lot of decisions that the president makes,” said Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, emphasizing Vance’s influential role.
Semafor quoted a source close to Vance, who remarked on his unique approach: “J.D. is a former colleague calling them. It’s a little bit of a softer touch … [Trump] is the hammer. J.D. is more like a diplomat.”
Senate Seat Transition
Vance’s departure from the Senate will trigger the appointment of his successor by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. The appointed individual will serve until 2026, at which point a special election will decide who fills the remaining two years of Vance’s term, which runs through 2028.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is viewed as the frontrunner for the appointment. NBC News reported that Husted and DeWine had recently met with President-elect Donald Trump, further fueling speculation about the choice.
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has emerged as a late and leading contender to succeed Vice President-elect JD Vance in the Senate, three Republicans familiar with the process say. https://t.co/ETTkaodvTR
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 3, 2025
