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The New Generation of Republican Leadership: Why JD Vance is the Man to Watch
JD Vance may not command headlines like Donald Trump or Elon Musk, but he is the man to watch if you care about the long game in politics. His vice-presidential assignments seem carefully chosen to position him with an eye toward where America is heading.
A New Era of Leadership
Vance’s remarks on American global leadership in A.I. this week in Paris turned heads with his forceful argument that we need to move beyond looking at A.I. as a threat to be managed to seeing it as an engine of opportunity. He talks about tech like a guy who doesn’t need kids to help him reset his Wi-Fi password, which is saying something for a political leader in our country. This is but one facet of what sets him apart from much of the Washington gerontocracy.
The Future of the Republican Party
If the 2024 presidential election was burdened by the weight of old men fighting for their respective legacies, Trump did something refreshing when he chose the first millennial running mate. As a pollster, I’ve seen voters’ desire for fresh energy and ideas come from a worry that our politics are stagnant and stuck on the status quo.
The Rise of JD Vance
Which is why I was struck this week when Trump was asked directly if he viewed Vance as his successor for 2028, and replied that he did not. He praised Vance for doing a "fantastic job" but said, in his view, it was "too early" to anoint him as the next Republican nominee.
While it is understandable that Trump is focused on the here and now, not what comes after his presidency, it is hardly too early to see the obvious. Vance is the natural inheritor of the movement Trump has built, with a keen grasp on what binds many of Trump’s supporters, especially his younger supporters, to him, both in style and in substance.
The Future of the Republican Party
A decade ago, after back-to-back elections in which Republicans got blown out among young voters, I wrote a book about the party’s problem reaching millennials. I called on Republicans to show up for my generation in the new places where we got information, to care about being culturally relevant, and to connect on forward-looking issues young people actually care about.
The Republican Party’s New Path
Finally, after years of struggling to appeal to younger voters, the Republican Party led by the Trump-Vance ticket nearly fought the Democrats to a draw with voters under age 30. I confess that 10 years ago I never would have guessed that it would be the re-election of Donald Trump bringing all this to fruition. Even as many young Americans still depart sharply from the G.O.P. on many issues, the improvements Republicans have made with younger voters are undeniable in the polling data I see. Republicans say they feel "cool" for the first time in a long time.
Conclusion
The Republican Party of yesteryear is not coming back. There is only forward, and there is only onward to what’s next, and JD Vance seems clearly to be what’s next for Republicans. As a younger American who also happens to be vice president, Vance has been able to fuse parts of Trump’s stylistic approach and policy agenda with a sense of the future that is likely to have appeal and staying power with the next generation of Republican voters.
FAQs
Q: What is JD Vance’s role in the Trump administration?
A: JD Vance is the Vice President of the United States, serving under President Donald Trump.
Q: What are JD Vance’s views on A.I.?
A: Vance believes that A.I. should be seen as an engine of opportunity, not just a threat to be managed.
Q: What is the significance of JD Vance’s youth?
A: Vance’s youth is significant because he is able to fuse parts of Trump’s stylistic approach and policy agenda with a sense of the future that is likely to have appeal and staying power with the next generation of Republican voters.
Q: What is the future of the Republican Party?
A: The future of the Republican Party is uncertain, but JD Vance seems to be well-positioned to lead the party into the future with his unique blend of style and substance.
