'Apparent indifference': JD Vance’s hometown has been in no hurry to celebrate VP-elect

25 December 2024

When Donald Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate in the 2024 presidential race, Democratic strategists were hoping that the "Hillbilly Elegy" author would be a major liability for him. Vance was inundated with scathing criticism for his "childless cat ladies" remarks, and some conservatives argued that Trump would have been much better off picking North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum or Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) as his running mate.

Regardless, Trump narrowly won the election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris by roughly 1.5 percent in the popular vote (according to the Cooking Political Report).

The vice-president-elect often plays up his Rust Belt upbringing and his connection to Middletown, Ohio, where he was born. But The Guardian's Stephen Starr, in an article published on December 24, reports that Middletown officials have been in no hurry to celebrate his connection to the city.

"Ordinarily, the home town of an incoming vice-president of the United States ought to be awash with pride, vigor and celebration one month out from their big day," Starr observes. "But across Middletown, JD Vance's home town in Southwest Ohio, you would hardly know…. There's little indication that, in a matter of weeks, this town's most famous son will become second in line to the presidency of the most powerful nation on the planet."

Starr adds, "Such is the apparent indifference in Middletown, that Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, felt it necessary to attend and speak at a recent city council meeting to plead for her son to be better recognized."

Aikins told attendees at the meeting, "I still live here, and his sister still lives in Middletown. (JD has) got two nieces who live here, and I just think it would be nice if we could acknowledge that this is his home town and put up some signs."

One of Vance's critics in his home state is Dr. Celeste Didlick-Davis, who heads the Middletown branch of the NAACP.

Didlick-Davis told The Guardian, "When I look around and want to see what this, quote-unquote, financial heavy hitter has done for this community, I'm still looking. Other individuals, a variety of people who have done substantial things, have supported growth and transformation (in Middletown). To know what (Vance) has done for this community, I'd have to really, really research, and I shouldn’t have to really, really research."

Didlick-Davis added, "You've had two years as a senator — have we had one visit that benefits someone?"

Read The Guardian's full article at this link.

From Your Site Articles