The recent straw poll conducted by Big Data Poll at Turning Point Action’s “People’s Convention” over the weekend revealed a strong preference for Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) to be former President Donald Trump’s vice president. Out of 1,986 people surveyed, 43% expressed their support for Vance as Trump’s running mate, according to the Daily Mail. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, praised Vance as one of Trump’s “most capable and articulate defenders and surrogates.
The straw poll also considered other potential vice presidential candidates such as Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who received 15.4% of the votes; Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), with 7.7%; and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), garnering seven percent support.
Kirk emphasized Vance’s strong connection to Midwest Americans, stating that he “speaks right to” the attendees at their Detroit conference, who represent a critical voting bloc needed to win in November and reclaim the White House. In an interview on CNN’s Laura Coates Live, Ashley Etienne, former communications director under Vice President Kamala Harris, described Vance as posing “the greatest threat” to Harris during debates, while also praising his debating skills and ability to connect with a broad audience.
Vance emerged victorious in Ohio’s open U.S. Senate race in November 2022 against former Rep. Tim Ryan. His campaign focused on reviving America’s manufacturing base through an economic nationalist vision involving tariffs and industrial policy. Vance has been an outspoken supporter of Trump, dismissing the idea that the former president endangered lives on January 6th, 2021, as “absurd.” After Trump’s guilty verdict in a Manhattan business records trial, Vance labeled the proceedings as “the definition of fascism.