The small-town kid who once inspired America’s working class with his story of hard work and perseverance is now on the brink of becoming Vice President of the United States.
Former President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) will be his running mate in the 2024 presidential election. “After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump said in his post, adding that Vance “will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
Just two years into his first term as Ohio’s junior senator, Vance has become one of Trump’s fiercest defenders, despite once being an outspoken critic of the former president. Vance, 39, gained prominence in 2016 with his best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which chronicles his journey from a dysfunctional, poor family to Yale Law School. Though the book does not mention Trump, it was seen as offering explanations for the former president’s rise in popularity with the white working class. In the years following its publication, Vance emerged as a bridge between the political elite and the Rust Belt.
Vance served as a combat correspondent in the U.S. Marine Corps and later worked as a staffer for Republican Ohio State Senator Bob Schuler while an undergraduate at Ohio State University. He won his first political campaign in the competitive 2022 Senate race against incumbent Tim Ryan with 53 percent of the vote.
Following the attempted assassination of Trump on Saturday, Vance accused the Biden campaign of inciting violence by labeling the former president “an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs.” Vance added, “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
Vance’s alignment with Trump’s agenda made him the favorite of Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., who promoted Vance in the weeks leading up to the Republican National Convention. “Stop what you’re doing and watch this right now if you want to know what America First is all about,” Don Jr. posted to X, accompanied by a video of Vance talking at NatCon where he called America a nation. “America is not just an idea. America is a nation. America is a group of people with a common history and a common future,” Vance says in the video.
Vance’s Senate record includes prioritizing legislation about foreign policy and cultural issues. He has been a staunch opponent of U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. In an April New York Times op-ed, Vance argued against a $60 billion aid package to Ukraine, claiming the country needs more than the U.S. can or should give. In contrast, he supports Israel’s efforts against Hamas, highlighting how it aligns with America’s national security interests.
Vance has been a strong critic of illegal immigration, slamming President Joe Biden in May for giving benefits to illegal immigrants. He also introduced legislation in June to wipe out diversity, equity, and inclusion programs throughout the federal bureaucracy, stating, “The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division. It has no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society.”
Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris’s former communications director said Vance would “pose the greatest threat to Kamala Harris” during a vice presidential debate. “I think he’s just got a quality about him where he’s just super smart and sharp and quick-witted,” Ashley Etienne said. “I just think … it’s going to be a challenge to see the two of them face-to-face. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but I think he’s going to be the greatest threat to her.”
If Trump and Vance prevail, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint a replacement who will serve until a special election is held to finish Vance’s term, which expires in 2029. The election will take place during a regularly scheduled election that is at least 180 days later, according to the Ohio Capital Journal.
Vance will give the closing address on Wednesday at the Republican National Convention and is set to be introduced by the former president’s son.
