As Trump eyes VP hopefuls, JD Vance is the MAGA king in the Senate
JD Vance has already separated himself as the most consistently MAGA-aligned of the three GOP senators on Trump's VP short list during his short time in the Senate.
WASHINGTON — JD Vance has been in the Senate for less than two years. But in that short time, he has already separated himself as the most consistently MAGA-aligned of the three GOP senators on former President Donald Trump's shortlist for a running mate.
Vance, an Ohio Republican, has distinguished himself as a harsh critic of American engagement in foreign conflicts and as a populist on most domestic issues. When he splits from the other senators Trump is eyeballing for his ticket — Marco Rubio of Florida and Tim Scott of South Carolina — it is often by embracing GOP base positions at the expense of establishment priorities such as funding government operations, according to an NBC News analysis of their voting records compiled by Congressional Quarterly.
Vance has the advantage of a short record — and one that has been built entirely in the Trump era — compared to Rubio and Scott, who cast thousands of votes before Vance arrived in the Senate in January 2023.
For the most part, the trio votes in unison. But over more than 500 roll call votes since Vance was elected, he has parted with Rubio and Scott 28 times when all three have been present. Rubio has opposed a position taken by Vance and Scott 22 times. Scott has made himself the odd man out just 11 times.
Vance's adherence to MAGA activists' preferences, particularly on foreign aid and curbing federal spending, is one of the reasons he is popular enough with the base to have emerged as a leading favorite, along with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, to land in the VP slot on Trump's ticket. Donald Trump Jr., the former president's eldest son and a figure trusted by his father's base, is publicly advocating for Vance.
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