Ohio
Ohio Sen. JD Vance could be next vice president. What to know about him
Ohio Sen. JD Vance could be the next vice president of the United States if former President Donald Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris.
He has been a U.S. senator since January 2023 when he won the race to replace Sen. Rob Portman.
Here’s what you need to know about Vance.
Where is JD Vance from?
Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, and often spent summers with extended family in Jackson, Kentucky.
How old is JD Vance?
Vance turned 40 on Aug. 2. If elected, he would be the youngest vice president since Richard Nixon.
Did JD Vance serve in the military?
Vance joined the Marines Corp after high school and served as a public affairs marine in Iraq.
What is ‘Hillbilly Elegy?’
Vance first attracted national attention for his best-selling 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” In the book, Vance recounted a turbulent childhood, his mother’s struggle with substance use disorder and the life-changing influence of his grandmother, known to him as Mamaw.
His broader commentary about the plight of the Rust Belt and Appalachia became a textbook for pundits trying to understand Donald Trump’s popularity with disaffected white Americans.
The book was later made into a movie by Ron Howard, starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams.
Watch: Usha Vance introduces husband JD Vance at 2024 RNC
Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Donald Trump’s running mate, delivered remarks at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Who is JD Vance’s wife Usha Vance?
Vance married Usha Chilukuri Vance in 2014 after the pair met at Yale Law School. She previously worked as a litigator at Munger, Tolles & Olson but left the firm when her husband secured the vice-presidential nomination.
How many kids does JD Vance have?
The couple has three young children: Ewan, 7, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.
Where does JD Vance live?
Vance and his family split their time between Cincinnati and Alexandria, Virginia.
Who is JD Vance’s mom?
Vance’s mom, Beverly Aikins, was raised by Kentucky-born parents in Middletown with her brother and sister. She has two children: Vance and his sister, Lindsay.
Aikins is 10 years sober, something Vance frequently mentions during his stump speeches. She has also traveled with him on the campaign trail.
“I want people to know to reach out, to try to get help, and that recovery is hard but it’s so worth it,” Aikins recently told the New York Times.
Dogs of 2024 election: Meet JD Vance and Tim Walz’s furry friends
JD Vance and Tim Walz might be on opposing sides, but they have one thing in common: their love for dogs.
What is JD Vance’s net worth?
Vance and Usha Vance have a combined net worth between $3.4 million and $10.2 million, according to his 2023 financial disclosure.
How long has JD Vance been in politics?
Vance was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 after defeating former Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for an open seat in Ohio.
What has JD Vance said about Donald Trump?
Vance was not always fond of the former president.
He previously suggested Trump could be “America’s Hitler” and compared him to an opioid − a quick fix who wouldn’t actually solve the country’s problems. Vance did not vote for Trump in 2016 and joked that he would rather write his dog on the ballot than back him or Hillary Clinton.
“I think that I’m going to vote third party because I can’t stomach Trump,” Vance told NPR. “I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place.”
Vance changed his tune as he geared up for his 2022 Senate run, deleting controversial tweets and crediting Trump for the work he did in office. He secured Trump’s endorsement in a chaotic Republican Senate primary and is now one of the former president’s most loyal allies.
Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.