James David Vance, born James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984, is an American politician, author, and Marine veteran. He has served since 2023 as the junior United States senator from Ohio. Notably, he is the Republican nominee for vice president in the 2024 United States presidential election.

After completing high school, Vance joined the US Marine Corps, serving as a military journalist from 2003 to 2007. He graduated from Ohio State University and later from Yale Law School. Initially working as a corporate lawyer, Vance transitioned into the tech industry as a venture capitalist.

Vance gained national attention with his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, published in 2016, which was adapted into a film in 2020. The memoir details his upbringing in the Rust Belt and the challenges of poverty.

In the 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio, Vance defeated the Democratic nominee, Tim Ryan. Although he initially opposed Donald Trump during the 2016 election, he has since become a strong supporter of Trump. In July 2024, Vance was selected as Trump's running mate ahead of the Republican National Convention.

Vance is known for his national conservative and right-wing populist views, identifying himself as a member of the postliberal right. His political positions include opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, gun control, and American military aid to Ukraine. Furthermore, he is a vocal critic of childlessness and acknowledges the influence of Catholic theology on his sociopolitical views.