Josh Mandel replacements: J.D. Vance seriously considering a run, Jim Renacci waits for Trump to call

COLUMBUS – Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel shocked Republicans when he abruptly dropped out of the U.S. Senate race Friday afternoon, citing concerns about his wife's health.

Immediately, thoughts turned to who could replace the front-runner Mandel on the Republican ticket by the Feb. 7 filing deadline.

GOP governor candidates: Renacci is waiting for Trump

Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine will continue to run for governor. Republicans speculated about his contenders, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.

Renacci is waiting on a call from Trump before jumping into the U.S. Senate race, Renacci's spokesman James Slepian confirmed.

"If the White House asks him to get in the Senate race, he will strongly consider it," Slepian said.

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, on the other hand, will not seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, her campaign spokesman Michael Duchesne told The Enquirer on Saturday. She will continue her campaign for Ohio governor.

“Mary Taylor is completely committed to running for governor,” her spokesman Michael Duchesne said. “She’s firmly committed to this race.”

Taylor will announce her lieutenant governor pick on Wednesday.

Sheriff Richard Jones: Not ruling it out

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said he would consider a run for the U.S. Senate. The conservative lawmaker is known for his tough stances on immigration and early support of President Trump.

"I wouldn’t rule something out, but I have a good job right now as the sheriff," Jones told The Enquirer. "I would need the support of the state Republican party." Jones also took a dig at Kasich: “I don’t even know if he could run as a Republican.”

J.D. Vance: Seriously considering

"Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance is "seriously considering running for Senate," Vance's consultant Jai Chabria said Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell contacted Vance over the weekend to pitch the 33-year-old on running. Other Ohio officials have reached out as well, Chabria said.

Some Republicans like Vance's Appalachian roots and message against Brown's blue-collar persona. But his book was actually more popular among Democratic-leaning readers than conservatives such as Vance, the Economist wrote.

Vance also did not vote for Trump, a point that his GOP competitors would bring up in a primary.

"J.D. Vance effectively voted for Hillary Clinton when he voted against President Trump. There's only one candidate in the race who would support the President, Mike Gibbons," Gibbons' general consultant Mike Biundo said.

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson: Maybe

Rep. Bill Johnson, a Republican who represents much of southeast Ohio, is also considering a run for U.S. Senate, especially if he isn't selected to lead the powerful House Budget Committee. (Johnson is one of three candidates and the pick should be made soon.)

“I never close the door to any opportunity so we’ll see what happens,” Johnson told The Enquirer Tuesday.

John Kasich: Probably not

Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges tweeted about his pick: #draftkasich. Gov. John Kasich is term-limited in 2018, but the governor isn't interested in the U.S. Senate, Kasich political consultant John Weaver tweeted.

"To all the press calling, the answer is no. Bigger fish to fry. #TwoPaths," Weaver wrote, referencing a speech Kasich made during his presidential bid.

Kasich has been one of President Donald Trump's most prominent critics within the GOP. He refused to vote for Trump and has continued to challenge him on health care, immigration and foreign policy.

Mike Gibbons: Pick me

Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons, who has been running for U.S. Senate for months, said the GOP should coalesce around him.

"Now is the time for Republicans to unite as one so we can defeat Sherrod Brown. As a conservative outsider, no one is better positioned to end career-politician Sherrod Brown’s career than I am," Gibbons said.

Gibbons has little name recognition or track record in Ohio politics, but he's received a few key endorsements such as the Franklin County Republican Party.

Pat Tiberi: No

U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, who will resign from the House Jan. 15, said he was not interested in the job.

"The congressman’s decision in May to not pursue a Senate run had nothing to do with Josh Mandel and the congressman looks forward to starting his new role with the Ohio Business Roundtable on Jan. 16th," Tiberi spokesman Rob Nichols said.