Who is JD Vance, potential Trump VP candidate?
(NewsNation) — Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, who was once one of former President Donald Trump’s fiercest critics, could now be heading into this year’s election as his running mate.
Donald Trump has narrowed his vice presidential short list to a handful of contenders as he prepares to announce his pick in the days before — or perhaps even at — next month’s Republican National Convention.
He told reporters Saturday that he already has made his decision and that the person will be in attendance Thursday night in Atlanta at the first debate of the general election campaign against Democratic President Joe Biden.
Trump has said his top consideration for a vice president is whether someone is qualified to take over as commander in chief.
But other factors are at play: Who can raise money? Who performs well on television? Who will be most effective on the debate stage against Vice President Kamala Harris? Who risks overshadowing Trump, an immediate lame duck if he is elected in November, with talk soon of 2028? And who has “the look”?
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Who is J.D. Vance?
James David Vance is a Republican U.S. Senator from Ohio.
Swept to national prominence by his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance has held office for less than two years. But during his short time in the Senate, the former venture capitalist from Ohio has established himself as one of the fiercest defenders of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda, especially when it comes to foreign policy, trade and immigration.
Despite his early criticism of Trump, Vance has become personally close with the former president and his son Donald Trump Jr., who has talked up the senator.
Vance has become a fixture of the conservative media circuit, frequently spars with reporters on Capitol Hill and has appeared with Trump at recent fundraisers and at court.
After high school, Vance joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Iraq. He then attended Ohio State University and later Yale Law School, where he graduated in 2013.
Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri Vance, a law school classmate whom he met at Yale. They have three children together. Before entering politics, Vance worked in the technology industry in Silicon Valley and later moved back to Ohio to start his own investment firm.
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Vance’s path to Congress
Vance’s journey to Congress began with his rising profile as a conservative voice. His memoir catapulted him into the national spotlight. The book’s exploration of working-class issues and cultural decline in the Rust Belt resonated with many readers and policymakers.
In 2021, Vance announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman. Despite initial skepticism from some Republicans due to his past criticisms of Trump, Vance secured Trump’s endorsement during the primary. This endorsement proved crucial in a crowded Republican field.
In the general election, Vance faced Democratic candidate Tim Ryan. The race was closely watched nationally, with Vance ultimately winning and taking office in January 2023.
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Vance and Trump
Vance’s relationship with Trump has been complex.
In 2016, Vance was one of Trump’s fiercest critics, casting the then-reality TV star as “a total fraud” and “moral disaster” and calling him “America’s Hitler.”
However, as Trump’s influence in the Republican Party grew, Vance’s stance shifted.
By the time of his Senate run, Vance had become a strong supporter of Trump and his policies. Trump’s endorsement of Vance in the 2022 Ohio Republican primary was seen as a major factor in Vance’s victory.
Since entering the Senate, Vance has generally aligned himself with Trump’s political agenda and style. This evolving relationship and Vance’s appeal to working-class voters in a key swing state could make him an attractive vice presidential candidate for Trump in 2024.
At 39, Vance would inject some millennial energy into a race that features an 81-year-old (Biden) and a 78-year-old (Trump) at the top of the major parties’ tickets. And a debate with Harris would certainly be heated.
Who is JD Vance, potential Trump VP candidate?
Senator JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio, center, as former US President Donald Trump, left, and Todd Blanche, attorney for former US President Donald Trump, right, speak to members of the media at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Monday, May 13, 2024. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of an alleged scheme to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters during his 2016 presidential campaign. Photographer: Mark Peterson/New York Magazine/Bloomberg via Getty Images
But will Trump be able to get over Vance’s record of past insults, which he mentions still?
Vance has said he was proved wrong by Trump’s performance in office, and the senator now castigates the liberals who made his book a bestseller as they sought a window into understanding Trumpism.
The senator also has strong connections with donors in Silicon Valley and elsewhere.
Vance is not even 18 months into his first term in government office, and voters may question his experience. Trump may also prefer to leave Vance in the Senate to lead the charge on his America First agenda in Congress.
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Impact on his Ohio seat
If Vance were to become Trump’s running mate and win the vice presidency, it would create a vacancy in his Senate seat. According to Ohio law, the governor would have the power to appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the next general election.
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, would be responsible for selecting Vance’s replacement. This could potentially allow DeWine to choose a more moderate Republican, which might shift the ideological balance of the seat.
Ohio voters would have the opportunity to elect a new senator to complete Vance’s term in the next general election. This could lead to a competitive race, potentially altering the balance of power in the closely divided U.S. Senate.
The possibility of Vance leaving his Senate seat for the vice presidency would likely be a factor in both Trump’s decision to choose him and Vance’s decision to accept such an offer.
The Associated Press and NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this story.
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