Ohio Senator J.D. Vance rose to prominence about eight years ago with the release of his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.” Now, he is being considered as a potential vice presidential candidate for the United States.
Former President Donald Trump recently endorsed Vance as the ideal choice for vice president, citing his memoir, legal background, and experience as a venture capitalist, including his work with Peter Thiel.
“J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Vance, 39, a veteran of the Iraq War, was elected to the Senate in 2022 with Trump’s support and financial backing from Peter Thiel. Vance first connected with Thiel during his time at Yale Law School.
After working at Sidley Austin LLP, Vance moved to San Francisco and entered the venture capital scene, forming ties with influential figures in Silicon Valley. He briefly worked at Thiel’s Mithril Capital before joining AOL founder Stephen Case’s venture capital firm, Revolution, in Washington, D.C.
At Revolution, Vance brokered deals in military technology and artificial intelligence, establishing connections with AI startup founders and billionaire Chase Koch. In 2019, he launched Narya Capital, attracting investors like Thiel, Marc Andreeson, and Eric Schmidt.
Narya Capital’s contributions became a cornerstone of Vance’s Senate campaign in 2022, though the actual impact of job creation was later disputed. Thiel’s $15 million donation played a significant role in boosting Vance’s campaign.
Vance advocates dismantling large social media companies like Facebook and Google, favoring strong antitrust regulations and blockchain technology. He also supports domestic natural gas and oil production while opposing electric vehicles and solar power. His stance aligns with Trump’s, and Vance has received substantial contributions from oil and gas lobbies.