Republican VP nominee JD Vance recently walked back his earlier comments about granting more voting power to parents. He clarified that his remarks were intended as a “thought experiment” rather than an actual policy suggestion.
A clip of Vance, made during a 2021 talk, resurfaced online, where he stated that individuals with children should have “more power” at the voting booth compared to those without kids. He mentioned, “Let’s face the consequences and the reality: If you don’t have as much of an investment in the future of this country, maybe you shouldn’t get nearly the same voice,” while speaking at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
Alex Brandon/AP
During an interview on ABC News’ This Week, Vance defended himself, explaining that his comments stemmed from discussions about lowering the voting age. “It’s a thought experiment,” he stated. “If Democrats want to give children the right to vote, shouldn’t parents have control over those votes?”
The Background
Since joining the GOP’s 2024 ticket, Vance has been under constant scrutiny for his statements regarding women, abortion, and childless individuals. He has also faced declining approval ratings, leading to questions about Donald Trump’s choice of Vance as his running mate. However, Trump has publicly expressed satisfaction with his decision.
What We Know
The viral clip from Vance’s 2021 speech featured him proposing a system where parents would oversee the voting rights of their children. He emphasized, “When you go to the polls in this country as a parent, you should have more power than those who don’t have kids.” Vance’s earlier comments were reignited following backlash over his derogatory remarks about Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the ABC interview, Vance stated he has not proposed any legislation related to his past comments and indicated that he was merely engaging in a thoughtful discussion. When asked if he regrets his remarks, he expressed frustration over the media misrepresenting his words. “I want us to be more pro-family,” he said, denying any intention to alter the American voting system to include children.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more details emerge.