Rep. Greg Landsman: My constituent JD Vance is 'not a unity selection' for VP

Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer
Updated ·2 min read
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Ohio Rep. Greg Landsman joined other Democrats on Monday in decrying Donald Trump's pick for vice president.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who owns a home within Landsman's district, fans "the flames of political division," Landsman wrote on X.

"Following the horrific assassination attempt of former president Trump, there was a collective call for unity in our politics. But Mr. Vance is not a unity selection," Landsman wrote.

Landsman further said Vance "gained fame and wealth by disrespecting Southwest Ohio" and recalled comments Vance made about Trump, comparing him to Hitler, in 2016.

Rep. Greg Landsman reacted to Donald Trump choosing Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who lives within Landsman's district, as a running mate on Monday.
Rep. Greg Landsman reacted to Donald Trump choosing Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who lives within Landsman's district, as a running mate on Monday.

Landsman grew up in Southwest Ohio's Butler County around the same time as Vance. He now lives in Cincinnati's Mount Washington neighborhood, not far from Vance's home in another Cincinnati east side neighborhood.

The "Hillbilly Elegy" author spent much of his childhood in Middletown, located in both Butler and Warren counties. The city served as the backdrop for his 2016 memoir, which became a Netflix film in 2020.

Landsman grew up outside of Oxford, Jenna Kaufman, his spokeswoman told The Enquirer.

"Mr. Vance believes we should cut Social Security and Medicare and not the trillions we spend on billionaires," Landsman continued on X. "Mr. Vance is all in on the culture wars, including picking on gay kids and telling women and girls what healthcare they can and can’t get."

Trump announced Vance as his running mate on Truth Social. Vance is expected to address delegates at the 2024 Republican National Convention on Wednesday.

Vance has endorsed Landsman's opponent in the November election, Republican Orlando Sonza. In a statement, Sonza called Vance a "fantastic choice."

"Senator Vance brings a breath of experience to this position, as a Veteran, entrepreneur, and Senator for Ohio," Sonza said in a statement. " As I have gotten to know JD over the past year, we have personally connected over our shared values of family and country."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: JD Vance got famous by 'disrespecting' hometown, Ohio congressman says