Who is JD Vance? What to know about Trump VP pick with Kentucky ties
MILWAUKEE - Former President Donald Trump tapped JD Vance to be his running mate Monday at the Republican National Convention, catapulting the Ohio GOP senator even more into the national spotlight.
Here’s what you need to know about Vance and his Kentucky ties:
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Where is JD Vance from?
Vance grew up in Jackson, Kentucky and Middletown, Ohio. He described a childhood consumed by poverty and abuse in his best-selling 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy." Vance's mother struggled with drug addiction, so he spent many of his formative years with his grandmother – known to him as Mamaw.
Vance and his family now live in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati. The senator also bought a $1.5 million home in Alexandria, Virginia, last year, Politico reported.
What are JD Vance's Kentucky connections?
Vance's grandparents lived in Jackson before moving to Ohio, and Vance spent his summers visiting his extended family there.
The Kentucky town is positioned in the central hills of eastern Kentucky, along the banks of the North Fork of the Kentucky River.
Vance was also an early investor in AppHarvest, a Kentucky-based company that grows produce within indoor farms. He served on the company's board but resigned in 2021 after posting some controversial statements on X, formerly known as Twitter.
What are Kentucky politicians saying about Trump's pick?
Some Republican Kentucky lawmakers quickly congratulated Vance by posting on X following Monday's announcement.
Attorney General Russell Coleman said Trump and Vance are a "incredible team" to lead the party in November.
Congressman Thomas Massie agreed Vance is a "great pick" for vice president.
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’s the history between Vance and Trump?
Vance openly criticized Trump in 2016 as pundits used his memoir to explain the former president's popularity with white, rural voters. He previously suggested Trump could be "America’s Hitler," called him noxious and compared him to an opioid.
But 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.
What are Vance's policy positions?
Vance personifies what's known as the New Right, a populist conservatism that rejects many traditional Republican views. He supports tariffs on trade and opposes U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts, particularly the war between Russia and Ukraine. He's also spoken out against potential cuts to Social Security.
Some of Vance's work in the Senate has been bipartisan. He introduced a rail safety bill with Sen. Sherrod Brown after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. He also worked with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on legislation to hold executives accountable for failed banks.
At the same time, many of his other bills reflect conservative views. For example, Vance introduced legislation to ban gender-affirming care for minors and a bill to eliminate diversity programs in the federal government.
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. Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.