U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio was named by former President Donald Trump as his vice presidential running mate on Monday, July 15, 2024.
Vance, a 39-year-old venture capitalist and “Hillbilly Elegy” author – turned – politician, quickly rose in the ranks this past year to the shortlist of picks to be Trump’s running mate.
Vance recently entered the political scene, beating out former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat in 2022.
Vance was sworn in in January 2023, becoming the first U.S. Senator from Ohio to hold office without any previous government experience since John Glenn.
During his time in office, Vance gained attention for his response and work with residents and local government in East Palestine, OH following the toxic train derailment.
Vance was an outspoken Trump critic, but when Donald Trump Jr. reached out to him about his book, a mutual friendship.
Vance met Trump in 2021 and in April 2022, Trump endorsed Vance in the Ohio U.S. Senate race.
In the past two years, Vance has been an active supporter for Trump on the campaign trail and ally on Capitol Hill.
Vance, who has helped raise millions for the Trump campaign, joined the former president at a private fundraiser and lunch discussion in Indian Hill in May.
The fundraiser was hosted at the home of Peggy and Gary Johns.
The Johns are big supporters of Vance.
They held a fundraiser for him in Indian Hill in 2022 during his run for Senate.
Vance was also at the presidential debate last month, helping the former president in the spin room, where he fielded questions regarding the discussion on Trump’s running mate pick.
Vance, a Middletown, OH native, is a father of three and a Marine veteran.
