Southern California Democrats were quick to point out that former President Donald Trump’s pick for a running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, was once a harsh critic of the former president.
And Republicans, perhaps predictably, praised Vance as a choice for vice president after Trump made the announcement as the Republican National Convention got underway on Monday, July 15.
“Now’s the time to unite and elect the change we need to get our country back on track,” Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, said, also offering congratulations to Vance.
Noting Vance’s once-fierce commentary of the former president, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, implied that Vance is joining the ticket “in the raw pursuit of power.”
“Having declared Trump unfit for office, he now joins the ticket, ready to advance all that he once deplored,” said Schiff, a candidate for U.S. Senate.
Vance, 39, who is the first millennial to join a major-party ticket, called Trump “a total fraud,” “a moral disaster” and even “America’s Hitler” when Trump first ran in 2016. The former president, who is running for another term in the White House, announced the Ohio senator as his running mate as the Republican National Convention got underway on Monday, July 15.
Related: Who is JD Vance? Things to know about Donald Trump’s pick for vice president
Trump has broken down so many guardrails of our democracy because of his enablers in Congress.@JDVance1 now moves to the top of the list.
Having declared Trump unfit for office, he now joins the ticket, ready to advance all that he once deplored.
In the raw pursuit of power.
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) July 15, 2024
State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, who’s running for California’s open 47th congressional district, also alluded to Vance’s past rhetoric, saying he prefers presidential candidates “whose VP nominees don’t openly call them America’s Hitler.”
I prefer Presidential candidates whose VP nominees don’t openly call them America’s Hitler.
— Dave Min (davemin_ca on ) (@DaveMinCA) July 15, 2024
But Scott Baugh, a former state legislator who is vying for that same CA-47 seat, said he was happy with Trump’s pick.
“Trump and Vance are the leaders we need to get the economy back on track, secure our border and fight crime,” Baugh, a Republican, said in a social media post. “They will champion the American Dream.”
Excited by the VP pick by President Trump! Senator Vance is a young dynamic leader that will bring even more energy and excitement to the ticket. I look forward to working with the Trump-Vance Administration to address the needs of hardworking communities like the Central Valley,…
— Vince Fong (@vfong) July 15, 2024
“Sen. Vance is a young dynamic leader that will bring even more energy and excitement to the ticket,” Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, said. “I look forward to working with the Trump-Vance administration to address the needs of hardworking communities like the Central Valley, end the border crisis, grow our economy, defend our water and energy resources and make America Great Once Again.”
A spokesperson for Steve Garvey, who is running for U.S. Senate in California, declined to comment on the pick.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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