JD Vance’s Journey: From Liberal Icon to MAGA Superstar

JD Vance captivated the attendees of the Republican national convention on Wednesday with stories from his childhood, describing a life marked by poverty and struggle. He spoke about people who found themselves at the mercy of economic downturns and felt abandoned by the country’s ruling elites.

“My work taught me that there is still so much talent and grit in the American heartland,” Vance said. Recently anointed as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential nominee, he emphasized, “For these places to thrive, my friends, we need a leader who fights for the people who built this country.”

It marked a stark departure from his 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, where Vance argued that “culture” and laziness, not economic circumstances, encouraged social decay in America. The controversial book fueled the conservative angle that cultural backslides were the root cause of poverty in the U.S.

Since his memoir propelled him into political prominence, Vance’s publicly espoused worldview has changed dramatically. Initially a Trump critic embraced by liberals, he transformed into a MAGA superstar, securing a U.S. Senate seat with Trump’s endorsement. He has spent his first 18 months in office pursuing an isolationist foreign policy and engaging in domestic culture wars.

In the last five years, Vance has aligned closely with Trump, questioning the 2020 election results and opposing U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, including support for Ukraine. Although he will likely lean on his heartland roots during the campaign – essential for winning states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – he has mostly left his early life in suburban Ohio behind.

Vance’s story begins in Middletown, Ohio, a mill town historically dependent on its steel mill, which employed many local residents, including Vance’s grandfather, who migrated from Jackson, Kentucky for a job. The decline of the steel industry in the 1970s devastated communities, leading to high unemployment and poverty. In his book, Vance depicted how the opioid epidemic further worsened conditions for many in Middletown.

“Our homes are a chaotic mess,” Vance wrote, describing the domestic turmoil and addiction issues in his community. He chronicled his mother’s struggle with addiction and credited his grandmother, “Mamaw,” for raising him and stressing the importance of education.

Vance served as a combat journalist in the U.S. Marines from 2003 to 2007, including a deployment to Iraq. Later, he attended Ohio State University and Yale Law School. Moving up the ranks, he eventually met influential mentors and married his classmate Usha Chilukuri. They tied the knot a year after graduation.

After a stint in corporate law, Vance moved to San Francisco, diving into venture capitalism with the help of tech billionaire Peter Thiel. His firm, Narya, invested in startups, including the rightwing video streaming company Rumble, blending his political ambitions with Silicon Valley wealth.

Vance’s political trajectory includes starting Our Ohio Renewal, a charity aimed at enhancing economic opportunities but achieved little. His political record has been mixed, from introducing 33 Senate bills, none of which passed, to aligning with far-right figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene.

In 2023, he co-sponsored the Fend Off Fentanyl Act, but later voted against his own measure when it was part of a bill sending aid to Ukraine. Vance’s foreign policy stances have rallied some right-wing supporters but alienated others, including constituents baffled by his opposition to supporting Ukraine.

Vance’s hometown, Middletown, has had mixed reactions to his rise. Brandon Ingram, an auto shop worker, praised Vance as an “average, hardworking American” who worked for his success. In contrast, Black residents found his memoir overlooking their community’s contributions and struggles.

“Middletown has a rich history, but it has a history of segregation,” said Celeste Didlick-Davis, president of Middletown’s NAACP. She noted that Vance offered a sanitized and exclusionary view of Middletown’s history.

Moreover, critics from Appalachian communities decried his portrayal of their lives as stereotypical. The opioid crisis continues to ravage places like Middletown, which had one of the highest overdose death rates in Ohio in recent years.

“I enjoyed his book,” said Jackie Phillips, Middletown’s health commissioner. Although she admired his memoir, she is disappointed by his lack of proactive actions.

As Vance steps onto a national platform, many doubt whether he will bring about the promised change. “He’s had the opportunity,” Phillips said. “Maybe he can do something in the future, but when you have the opportunity to do something you should do it regardless.”

Source: The Guardian