From Foster Care to State Politics
Born in Michigan in 1967, Jon Husted's life began in foster care before he was adopted by James and Judy Husted and raised in the small community of Montpelier, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree and was an All-American defensive back on the university's 1989 Division III National Championship football team. After a stint working for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Husted entered politics. He was first elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2000, eventually rising to become the Speaker of the House from 2005 to 2009. In that role, he led the passage of a state budget that included what was then the largest income-tax cut in Ohio's history.
Climbing the Ladder: Secretary of State
After a brief period in the
Ohio Senate, Husted was elected as Ohio's Secretary of State in 2010 and reelected in 2014. During his two terms, he focused on modernizing the office and making Ohio more business-friendly. He oversaw initiatives that moved business filings online, dramatically cutting down processing times from weeks to hours. His office also reduced the cost of starting a business by 21%, making Ohio the most affordable state in the Midwest for entrepreneurs at the time. On the elections front, Husted operated under the mantra of making it "easy to vote and hard to cheat." His office's methods for maintaining voter rolls were challenged and ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2018 case Husted v. Philip Randolph Institute.
The Governor's Wingman and Innovator
In 2018, Husted initially launched his own campaign for governor before making a strategic move to join Mike DeWine's ticket as his running mate for lieutenant governor. After their victory, DeWine tasked Husted with a significant portfolio. He was named the director of the newly created InnovateOhio, an initiative aimed at using technology to improve state government services, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. He also led the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation and the Common Sense Initiative (CSI), which reviews and aims to streamline business regulations. As lieutenant governor, Husted was a key player in the administration's economic development efforts, which included securing major investments in the state.
An Appointment to the Senate
Husted's career took its most significant turn in early 2025. Following the election of J.D. Vance as Vice President, a vacancy opened in the U.S. Senate. Governor DeWine appointed Husted to fill the seat, and he was sworn in on January 21, 2025. This elevated him from a powerful state official to the national political stage. As of September 2026, Husted is running in a competitive special election to complete the remainder of Vance's term. His campaign focuses on his extensive record in Ohio, from cutting taxes as Speaker to his work on economic and workforce development as Lieutenant Governor. The race pits him against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, setting up one of the nation's most-watched contests.
