Who is J.D. Vance? What to know about Donald Trump’s possible VP pick
Former President Donald Trump could select J.D. Vance as his running mate, thrusting the Ohio senator further into the national limelight.
Where is J.D. Vance from?
Vance grew up in Jackson, Kentucky, and Middletown, Ohio. He chronicled a childhood marked by poverty and abuse in his 2016 bestseller, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His mother battled drug addiction, leading him to spend much of his youth with his grandmother, whom he called Mamaw.
Did J.D. Vance serve in the military?
After high school, Vance joined the Marine Corps, serving as a public affairs marine in Iraq.
Is J.D. Vance married?
Yes, he is. Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, is a litigator for a law firm based in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. They met at Yale Law School and married in 2014, a year after graduating. The couple has three young children: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel.
Where does J.D. Vance live?
Vance and his family reside in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood. Additionally, he purchased a $1.5 million home in Alexandria, Virginia, last year, according to Politico.
How long has J.D. Vance been in politics?
Vance entered the political arena in 2022, winning a U.S. Senate seat by defeating former Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in Ohio.
What’s the history between Vance and Trump?
In 2016, Vance was a vocal critic of Trump, using his memoir to shed light on Trump’s appeal among white, rural voters. He once suggested Trump could be “America’s Hitler,” labeled him noxious, and compared him to an opioid. However, as he prepared for his 2022 Senate run, Vance shifted his stance, deleting contentious tweets and praising Trump’s presidency. He earned Trump’s endorsement during a tumultuous Republican Senate primary and has since become a steadfast ally.
What are Vance’s policy positions?
Vance embodies the New Right, a brand of populist conservatism that diverges from many traditional Republican stances. He advocates for tariffs on trade and opposes U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, especially the Russia-Ukraine war. He’s also vocal against potential cuts to Social Security. Some of his Senate work has been bipartisan, such as introducing a rail safety bill with Sen. Sherrod Brown after the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and collaborating with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on legislation to hold bank executives accountable for failures. Yet, many of his other initiatives reflect conservative views, including a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors and one to eliminate federal diversity programs.
Where does J.D. Vance stand on abortion?
Vance opposes abortion and advocates for government policies that encourage childbearing. Nonetheless, like other Republicans, he has adjusted his rhetoric following state-level votes in favor of abortion access. In a December CNN interview, he acknowledged that Republicans must “accept that people do not want blanket abortion bans.”