When Donald Trump selected Mike Pence of Indiana as his running mate in 2016, the logic was to appeal to evangelical Christian voters.
The former president who recently escaped assassination has chosen Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate for this election cycle, shedding light on his campaign strategy and how he intends to rule the United States of America if elected back to the White House in November.
James David Vance was born James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984. He is an author, venture capitalist, and politician who has served as Ohio’s junior United States senator since 2023.
His selection as the Republican running mate ahead of the November 2024 elections further indicates the importance of winning industrial Midwest battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota.
J.D. Vance is from the midwest state of Ohio and grew up in a blue-collar environment. His upbringing and its influence on his political views as detailed in his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” is likely to resonate with white, working-class voters who played a crucial role in Trump’s 2016 victory.
J.D Vance’s difficult childhood and heroic turnaround
J.D Vance’s childhood was marked by poverty and abuse, and his mother struggled with drug addiction. His parents got divorced when he was only a toddler and was adopted by his mother’s third husband. However, he was primarily raised by his maternal grandparents.
The senator who has been nicknamed the “voice of the Rust Belt” is an accomplished author whose memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” is a New York Times Bestseller. The book has been adapted into a movie which you can stream on Netflix.
At 39, he brings youth to the ticket, an advantage to get younger voters as the candidates at the top of both major parties are considerably older. The senator served in the US Marine Corps and attended Ohio State University, graduating in 2009. He graduated from Yale Law School in 2013.
Trump praised Vance’s military service and Ivy League law school background, positioning him as a leading figure among a new generation of MAGA Republicans. If Trump wins, his running mate could be a strong contender for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination.
Political Alignment
Despite criticizing Trump during the 2016 election, Vance has become a staunch defender of the former president, particularly in media appearances. His loyalty and effectiveness likely influenced Trump’s choice.
J.D. Vance has echoed Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election and stated he would have blocked the certification of the results on January 6, 2021, aligning himself closely with Trump’s views on trade, immigration, and foreign policy. He has also moved closer to Trump on issues like abortion, backing away from his earlier stance on exceptions for rape and incest.
During his time in the Senate, J.D Vance has been described as a neo-reactionary, national conservative, and a right-wing populist. He has been considered a maverick from Republican orthodoxy on economics, supporting raises to the minimum wage, unionization, tariffs, and antitrust policy. He has also opposed American military aid to Ukraine.
“J.D. Vance is a clone of Trump” -President Biden
Trump’s campaign has outlined plans for a potential second term, including across-the-board tariffs, mass deportations of undocumented migrants, and a major overhaul of the federal bureaucracy. Vance’s selection reinforces Trump’s commitment to these policies, which opponents argue are merely an extension of Trumpism.
President Joe Biden has remarked that there is no difference between Vance and Trump, calling Vance a “clone” of the former president on key issues.
J.D. Vance being chosen as Trump’s running mate indicates a strategic emphasis on crucial Midwest states and a reaffirmation of Trump’s core policies. Given his background and alignment with Trump’s ideology, Vance is positioned to have a substantial impact on the future of the Republican Party.