When then-candidate Donald Trump announced that Mike Pence would be his running mate in 2016, the rationale was clear. Pence, a Midwestern former governor known for his love of Jesus and free markets, would lend credibility with religious voters and traditional conservatives to the otherwise unorthodox nominee. The choice was meant to shore up support among a constituency seen at the time as not yet sold on the former real estate mogul and reality TV star.
The former president's pick of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance in 2024 reflects the sad reality that none of those considerations are relevant any longer. Rather than trying to "balance out" his ticket, Trump is doubling down, selecting a fire-breathing populist with clear authoritarian tendencies, a soft spot for progressive economics, and a connection to the working class.
