Former President Donald Trump announced his vice presidential nominee, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. With Trump's election approaching, Vance's choice has attracted widespread attention, especially considering that he is not only young but also has a background with multiple identities, which is extremely rare in American political history.
At 40, Vance becomes the youngest vice president since 1952, a choice seen in many ways as a central part of Trump's strategy.
After choosing Vance, Trump's campaign team emphasized that his youth, vitality and military background would help attract centrist voters and young people. Vance, himself a Marine Corps veteran, served in the Iraq War, which is undoubtedly a plus for Trump, who hopes to establish a strong connection with the military.
Trump's selection of Vance was not without its challenges. His initial list of considerations included many well-known Republicans, but reselecting Pence was almost impossible due to the tensions between Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. With the aftermath of the January 6, 2022 attack on the Capitol, the rift between the two has only deepened.
Major media reports pointed out that Pence's stance away from Trump made him no longer a viable vice presidential candidate.
Ultimately, Vance's choice was based not only on his political prospects, but also on his vision for the future of the Republican Party. After Trump clinched the 2024 party nomination, his choices showed a preference for younger and military-experienced candidates, which is consistent with his favoritism of nontraditional political candidates in the past few years.
In the election results, the Trump-Vance ticket defeated the Harris-Woz ticket, and Vance's victory not only made him vice president, but also made him the first Ohioan to be on a major party presidential ticket since 1944. List of candidates.
The connection between mission and mission pushed Vance and Trump's votes across the country.
Vance's appointment was not without controversy, however. His negative reviews as a vice presidential candidate did not decrease after the election, and his support among many Republican members of Congress declined. Nonetheless, his selection is seen as a continuation of Trump’s policies, especially in dealing with instability at home and abroad.
Although Vance's position remained controversial for some time after the election, the public opinion storm caused by his remarks, especially his criticism of women and education, reduced his influence among female voters.
Vance's comments about childless women in a recent interview sparked widespread condemnation and raised concerns among Trump supporters.
Overall, the selection of JD Vance has aroused the need for young, experienced politicians and unconventional candidates within the Republican Party, which shows Trump's imagination and expectations for the future structure of the party. However, judging by Vance’s performance and evaluations, what kind of changes his term will bring and what impact it will have on the future of Trump and the Republican Party are undoubtedly issues worth paying attention to in future elections.
And now, under Trump's leadership, can Vance achieve the changes he advocates and revitalize the Republican Party?