Senator JD Vance, the current vice presidential nominee, has claimed that he was a different person in 2016 when he publicly criticized Donald Trump, calling him “reprehensible” and questioning whether he could be “America’s Hitler.” He defined himself as a staunch “Never Trumper” at the time. Despite not being a Democrat, Vance suggested voting for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, expressing his dislike for both the Republican and Democratic nominees.
Vance’s family has ties to the Democratic Party, with his grandparents being described as “classic blue-dog Democrats.” His wife was also a registered Democrat until at least 2014, and she last voted in the 2022 General Election as a Republican. Despite his family’s Democratic leanings, Vance has successfully partnered with Democrats on legislation during his time as an Ohio senator. He worked with progressive Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown on a railway safety reform bill after a toxic chemical spill in Ohio, earning praise from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
While Vance is not a Democrat himself, his upbringing, family ties, and bipartisan collaborations with Democrats in Congress are noteworthy. He has shown an ability to work across the aisle and get things done, despite his previous criticism of Trump and his current position as a key figure in the Republican Party’s MAGA circle.
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