If JD Vance becomes vice president alongside former President Donald Trump this November, he would be one of the most inexperienced vice presidents in U.S. history.
Trump announced Vance as his running mate on July 15. The Ohio senator is a newcomer to public office, having only taken his seat in January 2023. Before this, Vance was known as a venture capitalist, an author, and a Marine.
Vance’s early days in the spotlight have not been easy—in addition to facing backlash for comments about “childless cat ladies,” he’s dealt with rumors of Trump’s second thoughts about him and odd accusations like having an affair with a couch.
Polls indicate that he is also the least popular vice presidential nominee since 1980.
His limited political experience raises eyebrows as well. Political experts draw comparisons between Vance and former vice presidents with similar backgrounds, like Spiro Agnew and Sarah Palin, both of whom had brief stints in local government before reaching higher office.
Agnew, for example, had a mere two years as governor of Maryland before joining Nixon’s ticket, while Palin served as Alaska’s governor for two years before being selected by John McCain in 2008.
In contrast, many modern vice presidents have accrued extensive public service experience. Joe Biden served 36 years in the Senate, while Dick Cheney had a decade in the House, along with roles in top government positions.
Critics suggest that Vance’s ties to Silicon Valley billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel have disconnected him from everyday Americans.
Political analyst Goldstein pointed out that while experience doesn’t guarantee effectiveness, Vance’s statements sometimes reveal a lack of readiness for the national stage—for instance, his comments regarding contesting the 2020 election results were controversial.
More recently, Vance publicly linked the assassination attempt on Trump to President Biden’s campaign rhetoric, a statement that drew criticism from former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who deemed it disqualifying.
Today is not just some isolated incident.
The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs.
That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.— JD Vance (@JDVance) July 14, 2024
Despite the controversies, some experts, like Andrew Wroe, believe that Vance could still be an asset to the Trump campaign. His skills as a media performer and ability to connect with the political base might work in his favor.
Interestingly, Wroe notes that sometimes a lack of lengthy political history can be a benefit in a campaign by avoiding past controversial votes.
Vance will need to navigate his relationship with Trump carefully. A difficult aspect of being vice president is managing the dynamic with the President, as seen with former VP Mike Pence, who clashed with Trump over the certification of the 2020 election results.
Pence, for context, had more than a decade of political experience before joining Trump’s administration. Can Vance balance being a newcomer and a team player in this turbulent political landscape? Time will tell.