A little more than three years ago, J.D. Vance was simply an author and conservative commentator. Now, he could be next in line for the White House. It’s a stunning political ascent for the 39-year-old from Middletown, Ohio.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced Monday, on the first day of the Republican National Convention, that he had selected Vance as his running mate in 2024.
His 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy launched him onto the national stage as many sought an explanation for Donald Trump’s rise. At the time, Vance himself was extremely critical of the incoming president, but as he ran for office in 2022, Vance has changed his thinking. Instead of “cultural heroin”, claimed that Trump was “the greatest president of my lifetime.”
Vance’s embrace of Trump helped him secure the former president’s support in his U.S. Senate race, and since taking office, Vance has been one of Trump’s most consistent defenders. On cable news and Sunday talk shows, the Yale Law graduate has shown a knack for smoothing over the rugged edges of Trump’s recent statements without backing down from his positions. As the Trump campaign seeks to reach beyond its conservative base, Vance’s skills as a communicator and translator — presenting a more digestible version of the candidate’s message — could support attract undecided voters.
Putin’s opponent: Ohio’s Vance reiterates Kremlin’s points on sanctions
Still, there is much in Vance’s own message that could put some voters off. As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, he leaned heavily into anti-immigration rhetoric. On the campaign trail and in office, he staunchly opposed continued support for Ukraine. That stance is particularly notable given Ohio’s sizable Ukrainian community and Vance’s predecessor, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, who co-founded and chaired the Senate’s Ukraine caucus. Critics say Vance’s statements about the war reflect rhetoric coming from the Kremlin.
On the other hand, Vance has signed several pieces of bipartisan legislation. In addition to co-sponsoring railroad safety and unfair trade with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, Vance has backed a bill by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, to claw back bonuses from executives at failed banks, as well as a bill by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, that would eliminate a lucrative tax exemption for larger mergers.
Vance also praised FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan for taking a more critical approach to business consolidation, a more aggressive stance that has earned Khan the ire of time-honored GOP allies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
What does he bring to the ticket?
When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate, he or she often tries to address perceived shortcomings. The vice presidential pick might come from an vital state or region. Maybe he or she has robust ties to a particular interest group or represents a wing of the party. Maybe he or she brings more experience in government to the table.
Paul Beck, a retired professor of political science at Ohio State University, said Vance’s appeal to the candidate is certainly not geographic.
“Well, I think one thing Vance doesn’t bring is the votes in Ohio that Trump would need,” Beck said. “He doesn’t need them.”
In 2016 and 2020, Trump won Ohio handily. In 2022, when Republicans nationwide fared poorly, Vance and every other state Republican candidate won their races in Ohio.
JD Vance’s Transformation from Trump Interpreter to MAGA Fighter
Beck compared Vance to former Vice President Mike Pence, who helped bring evangelical Christians into the fold. Vance doesn’t have a similar affinity group to add, but Beck suggested he could support solidify support among one of Trump’s strongest supporters — white, working-class voters. Vance speaks their language, Beck argued, when it comes to trade and offshoring.
“It may turn out to attract that group or at least solidify that group in Trump’s coalition,” Beck said, but he conceded: “I don’t think Trump necessarily needs someone who is going to appeal strongly to that particular part of his base. On the other hand, he doesn’t want someone on his list who I think would be opposed.”
Instead, Beck emphasized Vance’s ability to communicate. “He’s certainly become one of the most forceful and eloquent defenders of many conservative policies,” Beck argued. And as part of the ticket, he added, Vance could be an asset “to downplay some of Trump’s major Democratic criticisms and turn them around in a way that’s credible.”
Personal perspective
Dan Driscoll met Vance as part of a veterans group at Yale University and described him as a calming voice to a “scared, humble, insecure” first-year law student. In an interview, Driscoll said he was “thrilled that my friend, who I respect very much, and our country have an incredible leader.”
After graduating, Driscoll settled in North Carolina. In 2020, he ran for the Republican nomination for the congressional seat vacated by former Trump campaign chief Mark Meadows. He lost in a crowded primary to the eventual winner, former Rep. Madison Cawthorn.
Driscoll argued that Vance’s string of successes from book to film to venture capital — “for most people, any one of those would be an incredible lifetime achievement” — are no accident, describing the senator as “one of the hardest workers” he’s ever met.
Like Beck, he viewed Vance’s communication skills as a kind of “superpower,” but emphasized that they worked because Vance said what he believed.
“I think he just wants to make a difference for a certain group of people that have been, it seems, overlooked since the 1980s or 1990s,” Driscoll said.
He argued that Vance is skeptical of the elite political consensus on issues like trade because it has contributed to the devastation of working-class communities like Middletown, where he grew up. This was a familiar element of Vance’s speech during his U.S. Senate campaign. Driscoll cited examples of Vance working with some of the most liberal lawmakers in the Senate and argued that he would not have done so if they did not share concerns about the impact of the policies on those communities.
“Even if what he’s saying doesn’t fit neatly into the left or right, if he believes it, he’ll say it,” Driscoll argued. “And I think a lot of people find that really compelling.”
Ohio Republicans Applaud
Shortly after President Trump announced his decision, there was a wave of positive reactions from Ohio politicians.
Gov. Mike DeWine, who will have to find a successor if Republicans retake the White House, congratulated Vance and praised his “unique life story that will resonate with Republicans and independent voters across the country.”
What happens if U.S. Senator J.D. Vance is elected Vice President?
DeWine has no problem choosing a running mate once Vance becomes vice president, but regardless of who he chooses, there will be an election in 2026 in which he will have to finish Vance’s term.
DeWine added that “JD will also bring a new generational perspective to the ticket” and that his experiences growing up destitute in Middletown, Ohio, will support him connect “with many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet right now.”
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno has been an enthusiastic supporter of Vance, and the feeling is mutual. Vance endorsed Moreno for U.S. Senate more than a year ago, hoping to avoid a tumultuous primary, and last November he campaigned with Moreno outside Columbus — urging the crowd to “send me reinforcements.”
“President Trump made an outstanding choice in selecting Senator JD Vance,” Moreno said in a statement.
America First and Ohio Proud!
President Trump hits the nail on the head again!
We are proud to see Ohio @JDVance1 join the Republican Party ticket and play a major role in taking back the White House in November.@ohiogop #GOPConvention
— Robert Sprague (@RobertCSprague) July 15, 2024
Moreno described Vance as a “dynamic, visionary leader” and “an excellent messenger” to advance Trump’s agenda.
“He will fight President Trump for our middle class, secure our border, and unleash American energy,” Moreno continued. “I am proud to call JD a friend and look forward to working with him to fire Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Sherrod Brown.”
Several Ohio politicians who could enter the race if Vance’s seat opens also praised the pick. On social media, state Treasurer Robert Sprague said, “Once again, President Trump hits the ball out of the park.” In a press release, Attorney General Dave Yost called Vance “the perfect choice.”
JD Vance is a patriot, a thought leader, and a fighter for the rights of America’s forgotten working class.
This is an excellent choice for President Trump. He will serve as vice president honorarily.
— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) July 15, 2024
“Tough, intelligent and full of energy,” Yost continued. “He knows what it’s like to fight, what it’s like to win and what it’s like to serve.”
Both men have their eyes on the governor’s mansion in 2026, and speculation has begun to mount that DeWine might nominate a gubernatorial candidate to create a less volatile GOP primary. Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted is also preparing the groundwork for a gubernatorial run.
Two recent U.S. Senate candidates also congratulated Vance on his election. State Sen. Matt Dolan, whom DeWine endorsed in this year’s GOP primary, described the election as “great news for Ohio and America. We need new, results-oriented leadership in Washington.”
Secretary of State Frank LaRose praised Vance, calling him an “excellent choice” who “will serve honorably.”
“JD Vance is a patriot, a thought leader and a fighter for the forgotten American working class,” LaRose said.
Ohio Democrats Criticize Vance’s ‘Political Shape-shifting’
Echoing Vance’s earlier comments against Trump, Ohio Democratic Party Chairwoman Elizabeth Walters issued a statement after his election that pointed to his “political character change.”
“JD Vance is an out-of-touch millionaire who launched his political career by exploiting Ohio’s opioid crisis and spent his time in the Senate humiliating himself in the service of a convicted felon rather than working to improve the lives of Ohioans,” Walters said. “His support for national abortion ban AND his warped belief that women should stay in abusive marriages for the sake of their children is an example of his unsafe extremism. He’s not just bad for Ohio, he’s bad for the country.”
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