J.D. Vance named as Trump's running mate

MILWAUKEE - From a “never Trumper” to within grasp of the vice presidency of the United States, J.D. Vance's rapid ascent within Ohio and national politics reached new heights with his selection as former President Trump's running mate.

“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,” Trump wrote on the social media platform, Truth Social.

The announcement comes on the first day of the Republican National Convention being held this week in Milwaukee. Talk of the senator becoming Trump’s vice president pick started circulating earlier this year, and the decision came down between Mr. Vance, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

“I think he’ll make a phenomenal vice president,” said Tony Schroeder, Putnam County Republican Party chairman, secretary of the Ohio Republican Party, and convention delegate in Milwaukee. He talked to The Blade prior to the announcement.

Among the contenders, Mr. Vance, 39, is the most ideologically aligned to the former president, but that hasn’t always been the case. A native from Middletown, Ohio, Mr. Vance attended Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He moved to California and worked in the tech industry before returning to Ohio. He became known for his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy , which documents growing up in a low-income family involved with violence and addiction. He was sworn into the U.S. Senate in 2023.

"I'm from southwest Ohio," Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou said. "I met Senator Vance when he moved back to the area, long before he entered politics. I've marveled at his career. It's a great thing for the party. It's a great thing for Ohio."

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wrote in a statement that the senator will bring a new generational perspective to the ticket and can relate to many Americans struggling with high inflation and an unaffordable housing market.

“President Trump has made a great choice and Senator Vance will be a great partner as they campaign together this fall,” he wrote.

After Monday morning’s delegation breakfast, Ohio’s Attorney General Dave Yost said picking Mr. Vance as Trump’s running mate will be good for the state.

“I think he's strong,” Mr. Yost said. “Here's a fearless leader. I love his back story. Literally from nothing in the hills of Kentucky and growing up in Middletown. ... I think it's very useful to have leaders who have experience that most Americans have. ... He got into the Ivy League, but he wasn't born on third base.”

Ohio’s other U.S. senator, Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio), could not be reached for an interview on Monday, but he wrote in an email that he has put ideology aside to work with Mr. Vance in the Senate.

“I’ve always put politics aside and worked with anyone to get things done for Ohio,” Mr. Brown wrote. “That’s what I’ve done with Senator Vance just like I did with Senator Portman before him.”

Former critic turned running mate

During Trump’s first presidential run, Mr. Vance was critical of the former president, saying in an interview with ABC News that he was a “never Trump guy.” He also took to social media to attack the presidential candidate during his campaign.

“It’s concerning to me that once he called Donald Trump ‘America’s Hitler,’” David Kissinger, president of Maumee Democratic Club, said. “He has no clear sense of a moral center.”

Mr. Vance made the remark when Trump was running in the 2016 election.

When Mr. Vance began his Senate campaign, he changed his tone about Trump, even publicly apologizing for his past criticisms. Trump endorsed Vance in the Ohio Senate GOP primary.

Ron Murphy, the president of the Greater Toledo Republican Club, said Mr. Vance’s change in support mirrors a lot of his constituency.

“I think it resonates with a lot of Trump’s supporters,” Mr. Murphy said. “A lot of supporters didn’t favor Trump at first as the candidate but changed their mind during his campaign and seeing the work he’s done in office.”

Mr. Murphy, who has previously met Mr. Vance, said he was excited Trump chose a running mate that grew up in the state and can understand northwest Ohio.

“If you’re from Ohio, how can you not be excited about the pick,” he said.

Since 2021, Mr. Vance has been a vocal supporter of Trump and has aligned his ideology to match. He has opposed sending aid to Ukraine and has supported a ban on abortion. Recently, Mr. Vance has shifted his stance on abortion to align with Trump’s, saying on NBC that he supports access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Trump has also vocalized his support for the pill on the campaign trail.

Lauren Blauvelt, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, said she was not surprised by the announcement, but she was concerned.

“He has practically used his time in the Senate to audition for the vice president role,” she said.

Ms. Blauvelt said she was worried about Mr. Vance’s views on LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and abortion access, pointing to the language in Project 2025. The 900-paged document was created by the think-tank Heritage Foundation, which is staffed by former Trump administrative officials. Trump has denied connection with Project 2025, and a different party platform was adopted at the convention. However, Ms. Blauvelt said voters can not trust the ticket to follow through with what they say.

“We keep getting this change in rhetoric,” Ms. Blauvelt said. “And if those two are elected in November, we won’t be able to hold them accountable.”

Mr. Kissinger said he doesn’t expect Mr. Vance’s flip-flopping on issues to stop at abortion.

“I expect this to continue,” Mr. Kissinger said. “I think he will continue to do whatever Trump says.”

As the November election gets closer, Mr. Kissinger said voters need to reflect on if Mr. Vance has a morale center.

Not a first for Ohio

Ohio is known for its claim to eight presidents, but it has also given birth to three vice presidents, all of whom never advanced to the president’s office. The last to serve was nearly a century ago, just before the start of the Great Depression.

Charles G. Dawes of Marietta served from 1925 to 1929 under President Calvin Coolidge.

Charles Fairbanks, born in Unionville Center, Ohio, served from 1905 to 1909 under Republican President Theodore Roosevelt.

Thomas Hendricks, born in Fultonham, Ohio, and a former Indiana governor, served as Democratic two-time President Grover Cleveland’s vice president for just months in 1885 before dying in office.

Mr. Cleveland is the only president to date to pull off what Mr. Trump is attempting, coming back to win the presidency after previously losing re-election. Mr. Trump would be the first Republican to do so.

“He’s certainly somebody who’s talked about as a presidential candidate after President Trump is done,” Mr. Schroeder said of Mr. Vance. “I’d love to see another son of Ohio as a vice president of the United States.”

If the ticket wins in November, Mr. DeWine would be tasked with choosing a temporary replacement to fill Mr. Vance’s Senate seat.

In June, Mr. DeWine’s press secretary Dan Tierney told The Blade that there have not been any conversations regarding the possibility of a vacancy.

“The governor has supported Senator Vance when he was running for office and has a good working relationship with him, but it would be inappropriate and premature to start having those conversations,” he said at the time.

After the governor makes his temporary appointment, a special election would be held 180 days after the vacancy occurs. The governor’s appointment is not tied to a specific party, but he is likely to pick a conservative politician.

On Wednesday, Mr. Vance is scheduled to speak at the RNC following Trump’s son Donald Trump, Jr.

Mr. Vance and Mr. Trump, Jr., have been close friends since Mr. Vance joined the Senate.