“Being a United States senator is a big deal,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said earlier this month. “It’s a big deal for the state, and we need to get it right.”

Given circumstances in Ohio and the U.S. right now, “big deal” might be an understatement as DeWine is tasked with finding a replacement to fill JD Vance’s U.S. Senate seat. Many who seem like easy options to consider are not really candidates.

Vivek Ramaswamy has been given other work to do for the Trump administration. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and state Attorney General Dave Yost are likely to face each other in their bids to replace DeWine in 2026. U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, Mike Carey, David Joyce and Warren Davidson likely don’t want to jeopardize their party’s slim majority in the House. And DeWine has said he does not plan to appoint himself.

What about former Ohio GOP Chair Jane Timken, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, state Sen. Matt Dolan, state Treasurer Robert Sprague or even Republican attorney and strategist Mehek Cooke?

There is a lot for DeWine to consider.

He has said he wants to choose a Republican who can defeat a Democratic opponent in 2026. The person also has to be a good fundraiser, appealing statewide on that front. It’s also got to be someone who understands he or she would be asked to run again in 2028.

“This is not for the faint-hearted,” DeWine said.

He’s got that right, particularly as there is one other quality DeWine must add to his checklist. Vance’s replacement must be the right person to serve and lift up ALL Ohioans. It’s got to be someone who understands his or her responsibility is to US.

Finding someone who checks all those boxes is not an enviable task. But DeWine is up to it, if he decides to be.