- Author, Anthony Zucher
- Role, North American Correspondent at the Republican Convention
- tweeting,
When Donald Trump chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate in 2016, it was seen by many as an attempt to appeal to evangelical Christian voters who might have been wary of supporting Trump, a former Democrat who was married three times.
This time around, he chose J.D. Vance. And like his previous pick, the Ohio senator’s selection offers insight into the former president’s campaign strategy — and potentially how he might govern if he returns to the White House.
The choice suggests that Trump knows this election will be won or lost in a handful of industrial Midwestern states.
Originally from Ohio, Mr. Vance gained widespread attention after the publication of his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, in which he recounts his working-class upbringing and how it influenced his political views and worldview.
With his background, Vance would be well-positioned to connect with the white, working-class voters who narrowly won over Trump in 2016.
The former president said as much in a social media post announcing his decision, writing that his running mate “will focus heavily on the people he fought so brilliantly for: the American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and far beyond.”
Trump went on to praise his chosen military service and his reputation at the Ivy League law school.
At 39, Vance will provide a youthful counterbalance to the top contenders in both presidential races. Trump’s pick positions the Ohioan as the frontrunner for a new generation of Magna Republicans. And if the former president returns to the Oval Office next year, Vance will immediately enter the conversation about the party’s 2028 presidential nomination.
Vance did criticize Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election, something Democrats were quick to point out. But he has since become an outspoken defender of the former president, particularly on television news networks.
His recent loyalty and effectiveness undoubtedly played a role in Trump’s decision.
When asked if he believed Mr Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election was decided fairly, he said no. He also said that, unlike Mr Pence, he would have tried to block the certification of the election results in Congress on January 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol riots.
Mr. Vance is also close to the former president’s political ideology. They share similar views on trade, immigration and foreign policy. Mr. Vance has been particularly critical of continued U.S. support for Ukraine.
In areas where the two men differed, Mr. Vance has deferred to his new running mate. For example, he has reversed an earlier position against allowing abortions for women who are victims of rape or incest.
Trump has laid out a number of his second-term plans over the course of his campaign — including across-the-board tariffs, a pledge to deport tens of millions of undocumented immigrants and an aggressive reshuffling of the federal bureaucracy. The choice of Vance is further evidence that Trump has doubled down on his Trumpism.
That’s also something his Democratic opponents are sure to raise. Biden told reporters on Monday that he saw no difference between Vance and the former president.
“He’s a clone of Trump when it comes to these issues,” he added.
That may be exactly what Trump wants.