Donald Trump has selected a young, devoted advocate for his Make America Great Again movement as his running mate on the Republican ticket, hoping J.D. Vance's journey from a blue-collar Rust Belt resident to senator can bolster his chances of winning. Presidential candidates typically choose a vice presidential nominee who can attract new voter segments or offset perceived deficiencies in image or policy. However, Trump chose a conservative white man from a state he was already likely to win. "We're thrilled," Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, declared moments after Vance's selection, praising him as a "fantastic addition" to the ticket. Vance, Triantafilou noted, has shared the experiences of millions of working-class and middle-class Americans.
Will Trump's strategy pay off? Despite facing an octogenarian rival in Joe Biden, who seems more affected by age, Trump, at 78, is aware of his own age. By choosing Vance, 39, the first millennial on a major US party presidential ticket, Trump could counterbalance Biden's relatively youthful vice president, Kamala Harris, who is 59. If Biden steps down, as some in his party suggest, Trump's age could become a focal point, making a youthful running mate essential to balance the GOP ticket. Trump might also be seeking a capable successor to continue the legacy of Trumpism, and he likely sees Vance as a potential leader for a new MAGA generation.
Vance was once a staunch critic of Trump but has since pivoted to become one of his most fervent supporters. He has removed previous critical tweets and now ardently supports Trump's ideas, advocating for a hardline anti-immigration stance and aggressive economic protectionism. Vance also fiercely defended Trump's baseless claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Trump's experience with his first-term vice president, Mike Pence, who refused to overturn Biden's election victory on January 6, 2021, may have influenced his choice. "Trump selected J.D. Vance as his running mate because he will do what Mike Pence wouldn't on January 6: go to great lengths to support Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it involves breaking the law, and regardless of the harm to the American people," said Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon.
Ohio has trended rightward, and Trump would likely carry the state with or without Vance. However, he is banking on Vance to help secure victories in neighboring Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, all critical battleground states. Vance's 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," was praised for offering insight into the lives and struggles of the white working class and their support for Trump. Vance "embodies Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, those Midwest states," said Ohio delegate Charlie Frye at the convention. The senator's blue-collar upbringing in the Midwest is seen as a powerful asset.
Trump is also considering the broader political landscape. Ohio is home to a fiercely contested senate seat held by a Democrat, and Vance's momentum could aid the Republican challenger, potentially helping the party regain control of the upper chamber of Congress.
