He has been a U.S. Senator since January 2023, when he won the race to replace Senator Rob Portman.

Here’s what you need to know about Vance.

Where does JD Vance come from?

Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, and often spent summers with extended family in Jackson, Kentucky.

How old is JD Vance?

Vance turned 40 on August 2. If elected, he would be the youngest vice president since Richard Nixon.

More: JD Vance would be the first Ohioan to become vice president, making his first run in 80 years

Did JD Vance serve in the military?

Vance joined the Marine Corps after high school and served as a public affairs Marine in Iraq.

What is ‘Hillbilly Elegy?’

Vance first gained national attention with his best-selling 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” In the book, Vance recounted a turbulent childhood, his mother’s struggles with substance abuse and the life-changing influence of his grandmother, known to him as Mamaw.

His broader commentary on the fate of the Rust Belt and Appalachia became a textbook for pundits trying to understand Donald Trump’s popularity among disaffected white Americans.

The book was later adapted into a film by Ron Howard, starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams.

Watch: Usha Vance Introduces Husband JD Vance at 2024 RNC

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Donald Trump’s running mate, delivered a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Who is JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance?

Vance married Usha Chilukuri Vance in 2014 after the couple met at Yale Law School. She previously worked as a trial attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson, but left the firm when her husband secured the vice presidential nomination.

How many children does JD Vance have?

The couple have three young children: Ewan, 7, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

Where does JD Vance live?

Vance and his family divided their time between Cincinnati and Alexandria, Virginia.

Who is JD Vance’s mother?

Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, was raised along with her brother and sister by Kentucky-born parents in Middletown. She has two children: Vance and his sister Lindsay.

Aikins has been sober for 10 years, something Vance frequently mentions during his stump speeches. She has also traveled with him on the campaign trail.

“I want people to know that they need to reach out and try to get help, and that recovery is hard, but it’s so worth it,” Aikins recently told the New York Times.

Dog Election 2024: meet the furry friends of JD Vance and Tim Walz

JD Vance and Tim Walz may be on opposite sides, but they have one thing in common: their love for dogs.

What is JD Vance’s net worth?

Vance and Usha Vance have a combined net worth between $3.4 million and $10.2 million, according to his 2023 financial disclosure.

How long has JD Vance been active in politics?

Vance was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 after defeating former Democratic Rep. Tim had defeated Ryan for an open seat in Ohio.

What did JD Vance say about Donald Trump?

Vance wasn’t always fond of the former president.

He previously suggested that Trump could be “America’s Hitler” and compared him to an opioid — a quick fix that wouldn’t actually solve the country’s problems. Vance did not vote for Trump in 2016 and joked that he would rather write his dog on the ballot than support him or Hillary Clinton.

“I think I’m going to vote for a third party because I can’t stand Trump,” Vance told NPR. “I think he is harmful and leading the white working class to a very dark place.”

Vance changed his tune as he prepared for his 2022 Senate election, deleting controversial tweets and crediting Trump for the work he did while in office. He secured Trump’s support during a chaotic Republican Senate primary and is now one of the former president’s closest allies.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations in Ohio.