Chillicothe, Ohio, and the USA — U.S. Senator J.D. Vance had visited Chillicothe in 2022 before becoming Donald Trump’s running mate yesterday.
The previous president announced his choice on Monday evening, after lively debate in the news media on Trump’s narrowing list of partners.
Vance had visited Chillicothe two and a half years ago, when four Republican primary candidates for the U.S. Senate, seeking to fill the seat of term-limited Rob Portman, spoke at the annual dinner of the Republican Women of Ross County on January 20th, 2022.
They were Matt Dolan, Mike Gibbons, Bernie Moreno…and J.D. Vance. I asked each one the question they had addressed to the audience: “Why Should You Vote for Me?” I wrote then:
J.D. Vance has been portrayed as an author. He has written a book, “Hilbilly Elegy,” a success a few years ago. But he speaks mainly as a businessman. He also flatly decries bipartisan corruption and bad decisions.
Vance was critical of Trump at first, but says he changed his mind like many Republicans after seeing his actions.
Hear my January 2022 interview with Vance below, and find my story – with all four interviews – on iHeart Radio Southern Ohio.
See our Scioto Post story on Trump’s Monday choice of Vance. Find more in the article on the Scioto Post, including the interview.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
1 of 3 2 of 3 "Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance.
3 of 3 J.D. Vance.