Ohio Senator J.D. Vance was not widely known in the political arena until about eight years ago when his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” gained popularity. Now, he is being considered as a potential candidate for vice president of the United States.
Former President Donald Trump recently endorsed Vance as the best-suited candidate for vice president, citing Vance’s memoir, legal expertise, and experience as a venture capitalist, notably working with figures like Peter Thiel.
“J.D. has had a very successful career in Technology and Finance, and will focus on the people he has advocated for, including American workers and farmers in various states,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Vance, a 39-year-old Iraq War veteran, was elected to the Senate in 2022 with the support of Trump and financial backing from his former boss and ally, Peter Thiel. Vance first met Thiel during his time at Yale Law School.
After working at Sidley Austin LLP for three years, Vance moved to San Francisco, where he began his venture capital career and developed connections in Silicon Valley. He briefly worked for Thiel’s Mithril Capital before joining Stephen Case’s venture capital firm, Revolution, in Washington, D.C.
At Revolution, Vance was involved in deals related to military technology and artificial intelligence. He also formed relationships with influential figures, such as AI startup founders and Chase Koch of Koch Industries. In 2019, he founded Narya Capital, attracting investors like Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Eric Schmidt.
Vance’s tenure at Narya Capital was highlighted during his Senate campaign, where he claimed his firm created nearly 1,000 jobs in Ohio, though this figure was later disputed, with reports indicating the jobs were a result of collective investments from multiple firms.
In his 2022 Senate race, Vance benefited from significant contributions, including a $15 million donation from Thiel, the largest amount given to a single Senate candidate.
Vance’s priorities include dismantling what he calls the “Big Tech Oligarchy,” targeting social media companies like Facebook and Google. He supports strong antitrust regulations and believes blockchain technology could be crucial in challenging these companies.
He also advocates for domestic natural gas and oil production and opposes electric vehicles and solar power, aligning with Trump’s stance. Ohio ranks highly in gas production and coal consumption, and Vance has received substantial contributions from oil and gas lobbies.