
In a major announcement on the first day of the Republican National Convention, former President Donald Trump named Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. Vance, a first-term senator, is relatively new to the political arena.
At 39 years old, he stands to become the second-youngest vice president in U.S. history if Trump secures another term.
Vance, a native of Middletown, Ohio, gained national attention with his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which provides a poignant account of his upbringing in a working-class family and the challenges of violence and addiction. The memoir’s success led to a Netflix adaptation, highlighting Vance’s journey from a tumultuous childhood with divorced parents to attending Yale Law School.
Born James Donald Bowman, Vance adopted his grandfather’s surname following his parents’ divorce. After graduating from high school in Middletown, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines and served as a journalist during the Iraq war. Vance then pursued higher education, first at Ohio State University and subsequently at Yale.
Vance’s political career began with his 2022 Senate victory over Democrat Tim Ryan, bolstered by Trump’s endorsement. Although initially critical of Trump, Vance became a staunch supporter of the former president by 2020.
With this announcement, Trump aims to invigorate his campaign with Vance’s youthful energy and compelling personal narrative.