JD Vance’s family elegy extends to Wise County - Wise County Messenger (2024)

The man who could be the next vice president of the United States is just “JD” to a pair of Decatur residents.

Ahead of the Republican National Convention (RNC), Ohio Senator JD Vance was officially picked to fill former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2024 ticket.

For James Vance, the uncle of the nominee, and Rachael Vance, his older cousin, that meant flying to Milwaukee, meeting some of America’s power brokers and joining the Republican nominee on stage of a spirited convention that featured the likes of Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan and a former president who was just shot in an attempted assassination.

It was an interesting and surreal experience for a couple Wise County folks who have been cheering on their bright family member from Ohio since the beginning.

Then and now, family remains a unique part of JD Vance’s story, one that’s covered in detail in his memoir, ‘Hillbilly Elegy.’ Two of those family members, Rachael Vance and James Vance, have a first-person perspective on his journey from the poverty cycle to Republican vice president nominee.

Ever since the announcement, their life hasn’t changed too drastically since the news broke on JD Vance’s selection. The main difference is the possibility of a family get-together that includes a Secret Service detail; plus the chance to actually be able to vote for him in Texas.

“We don’t act any different when we’re all together,” Rachael Vance said. “He’s not Mr. Vice President to us, he’s just JD.”

Back home in Ohio

When asked about some early memories of JD Vance, James Vance recounted a trip to visit his family in Ohio one year.

James Vance, who has called Wise County home for the past 20 years, went on a walk with his nephew, and remembered being struck by his line of questioning.

“He said, ‘Uncle Jimmy, are you rich?’” James Vance recalled.

James left his hometown, Middletown, Ohio, years before when he got a job in sales. He and JD Vance were essentially raised by the same woman, James Vance’s mom, Bonnie Blanton Vance. James Vance’s sales career brought him to California, Illinois and eventually to Texas, where he purchased some land on Farm Road 730.

James Vance was not rich in most peoples’ eyes. He worked 60 hour weeks, grinding out a career to support his family. He was eventually able to afford the occasional vacation and trip back to see his family. To a young JD Vance, that meant ‘Uncle Jimmy’ had to be a multi-millionaire.

“I just thought that was interesting that he was thinking in his mind, to be able to do this stuff, you must be rich,” James Vance said. “And then we’d talk about politics. Asking what party I support and why… He asked, as a little kid, how do you better yourself? And why do you think this? Most little kids, they’re thinking about other stuff. He was thinking about politics, income and equity.”

To James and Rachael Vance, JD Vance was always bright, plotting a course towards success.

Rachael Vance said she also embraced the chance to be a bit of a role model to her younger cousin.

Once JD Vance had graduated from Middletown High School, she said she accompanied him to a military recruitment office. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and JD Vance was set to follow the same path, one that would include serving their country and providing the means to attend college through the G.I. Bill.

“He had an older, smarter, better-looking cousin that convinced him to join,” Rachael Vance joked. “At that point, I had been out of the Marine Corps for two-to-three years. I was also married to a Marine, which is what brought me to Texas. JD had some issues with financial aid, and some things got messed up with the paperwork. And his mom, at the time, wasn’t doing great. It got messed up, so I flew out to Ohio to help.”

She steered JD Vance to Public Affairs, which is the field she entered in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“He wanted to serve, better himself and get a college education,” Rachael Vance said. “That was his way out.”

JD Vance was in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 as a combat correspondent, serving six months in Iraq. He then attended Ohio State University, graduating in 2009. He graduated from Yale Law School in 2013.

Both Rachael and James Vance described JD Vance as a normal kid, that just happened to be very smart and motivated. He was a Bengals and Buckeyes fan. But also, a perfectionist, who took academics extremely seriously.

“I think he has always been driven to do well,” James Vance said. “I remember he had written a paper, but he didn’t get the grade he wanted to get. It wasn’t a bad grade. But he wanted perfection, and was angry with himself for not doing better. But he took the challenge of having a hard life and not having a lot of money. When his mom was present, it wasn’t always a pleasant experience. My mom, God love her, she could be a pretty rough human. She loved him and he knew it. But he decided that his surroundings were not going to beat him or define him. JD was going to find a way to get what he wanted; and that was a chance to be successful, have a family, and for his family not to go through what he went through.”

JD Vance’s career after college included writing, practicing law, a few years as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley and then a successful run for the U.S. Senate.

When asked if JD Vance showed a strong interest in leadership growing up, Rachael Vance said he did, but not in the way one might assume.

“He is not where he is now because he was always just driven to lead,” Rachael Vance said. “I think a lot of people go into politics for power. I think that him going into politics was more motivated by the idea that he doesn’t want that feeling of hopelessness he felt as a kid to be imposed on some other kid. It’s based on wanting people to have a chance.”

Now, at just 39 years old, he’s the Republican vice president nominee.

On the ticket

Rachael Vance has a screen printing business. As the rumors leading up to the RNC began to swirl, she went ahead and created a Trump-Vance yard sign, just in case.

“We knew what everyone else knew,” she said. “But we had a good feeling it was going to be him.”

The Secret Service showing up at the Ohio senator’s home made it a safe bet. Then the announcement came through social media on July 15.

“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network.

For some, the news of Trump’s pick for vice president was broken while driving through Rachael Vance’s neighborhood in Decatur.

“I had those signs out immediately,” Rachael Vance said.

Then she packed her bags, including some recently printed JD Vance merchandise, for a trip to Milwaukee.

Rachael and James Vance purchased tickets to the RNC ahead of the announcement. They thought there was a good chance he would be picked, but if not, it would be a worthwhile experience and a chance to see JD Vance in his domain.

As politicians approached, some people made the connection, or were curious about how they were able to get her custom printed Trump-Vance merch so quickly.

“I just would tell people I’m here to watch my cousin,” Rachael Vance said.

They watched the convention from the vice presidential suite. But it was also a family reunion of sorts.

JD Vance’s circle at the convention included his staff, former high school buddies and his family, Rachael Vance said. They were there to support him, of course, but also didn’t shy away from opportunities to bust his chops and joke around.

She said that speaks to his priorities and upbringing, that he doesn’t want a bunch of ‘yes people’ surrounding him.

“His staffers, we love those kids, and the majority were the same ones at the beginning of the senate race, back when he was trudging along, giving speeches in front of 20 people,” Rachael Vance said. “Anybody who wants to be in the political world, I think the people that are with you are people that will just do what you ask. I think he likes having his high school buddies and family around. What people see on TV and the news, you get these short clips. Politicians sound like politicians. I don’t think people really understand what kind of guy he is. He’s just a regular guy who happens to be very smart and has a lot of great ideas about how to make this country better and to create better opportunities for people that grew up like him.”

As JD Vance delivered his speech as the Republican nominee, a speech that was seen around the world, Rachael and James Vance were among the few people who weren’t actually able to see the whole thing. As it was wrapping up, they were huddled up to the side, waiting for their moment to wave at the crowd alongside JD Vance and his wife, Usha, and the rest of his circle that was brought on stage.

“I had to watch the end afterward,” she said.

Once they got back home to Wise County, some people reached out. Rachael Vance said she got a few texts from friends who were asking if that was her on stage. But James Vance has been wearing his favorite Vance hat around Decatur for years, and he said he’s still yet to be pulled aside by someone making the connection.

It’s a mixed bag for Wise County’s tie to the 2024 presidential election. Still, the question of who they will be voting for come November is an easy one this year: Rachael Vance is going to vote for her younger cousin, and James Vance is going to vote for his nephew.