Trump Chooses Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for 2024 VP Run

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Donald Trump unveiled Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate on Monday, marking the first day of the Republican National Convention. This announcement ends months of speculation regarding his vice-presidential choice.

Vance’s political experience in Congress is limited, with less than two years as a senator and a record of voting against significant bipartisan bills. Prior to his tenure in the Senate, Vance served in the Marine Corps during the Iraq war, worked as a venture capitalist, and authored a memoir about his upbringing in Appalachia. He holds a law degree from Yale.

In a social media post, Trump stated, “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.” He emphasized Vance’s successful business career and his focus on American workers and farmers.

Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, expressed his approval upon hearing the news at a policy event in Milwaukee, referring to Vance as a “good friend” who embodies Heritage’s values. Roberts praised Vance for his listening skills and thoughtful nature, underscoring their shared challenging upbringings.

Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, has distanced himself from Trump following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. On that day, a pro-Trump mob disrupted Congress’s certification of the electoral college votes for President Joe Biden. Pence has since criticized shifts in the Republican Party under Trump’s leadership, particularly regarding abortion.

The Biden-Harris campaign criticized Vance’s selection. Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden-Harris 2024 Chair, stated, “Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate because Vance will do what Mike Pence wouldn’t on January 6: bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people.” She contrasted the Biden-Harris vision focused on uniting the country with the Trump-Vance agenda that she claimed benefits the ultra-rich and corporations.

Born in Middletown, Ohio, in August 1984, Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served in the Iraq War. He attended Ohio State University and Yale Law School, graduating in 2013. Vance gained national attention with his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” drawing both praise and criticism.

After working as a venture capitalist in San Francisco, Vance returned to Ohio to co-found a venture capital firm in Cincinnati. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, defeating Democratic candidate Tim Ryan with 53% of the vote.

Since his Senate induction in January 2023, Vance has opposed several major legislative initiatives, including the debt limit increase, the national defense policy bill, and key government funding packages. He also voted against a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, challenging the parallels between the war in Ukraine and the U.S. conflict in Iraq.

Despite his controversial stances, Vance has collaborated on bipartisan legislation. He co-sponsored a rail safety bill with Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Pennsylvania Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, aiming to prevent disasters like the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine. The bill has not yet advanced in the Senate.

This is a developing story and will be updated.