Career Timeline of JD Vance: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how JD Vance made an impact.
J.D. Vance is an American politician, author, attorney, and Marine Corps veteran. He served as a U.S. Senator for Ohio (2023-2025) and is currently the 50th Vice President of the United States. A Republican, he also serves as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee. Vance's background includes military service and a career in law and writing before entering politics.
2003: Enlisted in Marine Corps
In 2003, Vance enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from Middletown High School.
2007: Left Military and Studied at OSU
In 2007, Vance left the military and used the G.I. Bill to study at Ohio State University.
2009: Graduated from OSU
In 2009, Vance graduated summa cum laude from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy.
2010: Wrote for FrumForum
From 2010 to 2011, Vance wrote for David Frum's "FrumForum" website under the name J. D. Hamel.
2010: Entered Yale Law School
In 2010, Vance entered Yale Law School and won a position on The Yale Law Journal and began writing his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
2011: Initiated Rapport with Peter Thiel
In 2011, Vance initiated a rapport with Peter Thiel after attending his talk at Yale.
May 2013: Graduated from Yale Law School
In May 2013, Vance obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.
June 2016: Published Hillbilly Elegy
In June 2016, Harper published Vance's book, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," which became a New York Times Best Seller.
December 2016: Planned Move to Ohio
In December 2016, Vance announced plans to move to Ohio and consider starting a nonprofit or running for office.
2016: Principal at Mithril Capital
From 2016 to 2017, Vance served as a principal at Peter Thiel's firm, Mithril Capital.
2016: Published Hillbilly Elegy
In 2016, Vance published his bestselling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy", which garnered him national attention.
March 2017: Served on AppHarvest Board
From March 2017 to April 2021, Vance served on the board of directors of the startup AppHarvest.
April 2017: Ron Howard to Direct Hillbilly Elegy Film
In April 2017, Ron Howard signed on to direct the film version of "Hillbilly Elegy".
2017: Principal at Mithril Capital
From 2016 to 2017, Vance served as a principal at Peter Thiel's firm, Mithril Capital.
2017: Our Ohio Renewal Foundation Formed
In 2017, Vance formed a 501(c)(3) organization, Our Ohio Renewal Foundation.
2017: Joined Revolution LLC
In 2017, Vance joined Revolution LLC to expand the "Rise of the Rest" initiative, focusing on investments outside Silicon Valley and New York City.
2017: Started Our Ohio Renewal
In 2017, Vance started Our Ohio Renewal, a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization focused on education and addiction.
2018: Satel Residency
In 2018, Sally Satel was sent to Ohio's Appalachian region for a yearlong residency.
2018: Considered Running for U.S. Senate
In early 2018, Vance considered running for the U.S. Senate against Sherrod Brown, but did not.
2019: Co-founded Rockbridge Network and Narya Capital
In 2019, Vance co-founded the conservative political advocacy group Rockbridge Network, and venture capital firm Narya Capital.
2019: Advisor of With Honor Fund
In 2019, Vance served on the board of advisors of the With Honor Fund, a Super PAC.
November 11, 2020: Hillbilly Elegy Film Released
On November 11, 2020, the film version of "Hillbilly Elegy" was released in select theaters and on Netflix.
2020: Our Ohio Renewal
According to a 2020 capture of the website, the advisory board members of Our Ohio Renewal remained in their positions.
2020: Raised Funds for Narya Capital
During 2020, Vance raised $93 million for Narya Capital.
2020: Advisor of American Moment
From 2020 to 2023, Vance served on the board of advisors of American Moment.
2020: Vance questions 2020 election results
In October 2024, JD Vance publicly stated that he did not believe Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, alleging that "Big Tech rigged the election" through censorship.
March 2021: Super PAC Support
In March 2021, Peter Thiel gave $10 million to Protect Ohio Values, a super PAC created to support a potential Vance candidacy.
April 2021: Served on AppHarvest Board
From March 2017 to April 2021, Vance served on the board of directors of the startup AppHarvest.
July 1, 2021: Announced Senate Campaign
On July 1, 2021, Vance announced his Senate campaign in Ohio.
2021: Controversial 'childless cat ladies' comment
In 2021, JD Vance made a controversial comment in a Fox News interview, saying the country was run by "childless cat ladies," sparking backlash after it resurfaced when he was named Trump's running mate.
2021: Introduction to Trump
In 2021, Peter Thiel introduced JD Vance to Donald Trump, initiating a connection that would later influence Trump's decision to select Vance as his running mate.
May 3, 2022: Won Republican Primary
On May 3, 2022, Vance won the Republican primary with 32% of the vote.
2022: Sacks and Thiel Support Vance
In 2022, David Sacks contributed $900,000, and Peter Thiel added $15 million to a super PAC supporting Vance's Senate campaign.
2022: Won U.S. Senate Election in Ohio
In 2022, Vance won the United States Senate election in Ohio, defeating Democratic nominee Tim Ryan.
January 3, 2023: Sworn into Senate
On January 3, 2023, Vance was sworn into the Senate as a member of the 118th United States Congress.
January 2023: Served as Ohio Senator
From January 2023 to January 2025, Vance served as Ohio's senator.
January 31, 2023: Vance endorses Trump
On January 31, 2023, JD Vance publicly endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.
June 2023: Voted Against Debt Ceiling
In June 2023, Vance voted against raising the debt ceiling, opposing the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
July 2023: Introduced Legislation on Gender-Affirming Care
In July 2023, Vance and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced legislation that would have made gender-affirming care for minors a federal crime.
2023: Our Ohio Renewal Foundation Fundraising
From 2017 to 2023, Vance's Our Ohio Renewal Foundation raised around $69,000.
2023: Advisor of American Moment
From 2020 to 2023, Vance served on the board of advisors of American Moment.
2023: Represented Ohio in U.S. Senate
From 2023 to 2025, Vance represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate as a member of the Republican Party.
May 15, 2024: Fundraising dinner with Trump
On May 15, 2024, Donald Trump attended a $50,000 per head private fundraising dinner with JD Vance in Cincinnati, indicating increasing alignment and support.
June 2024: Sponsored Dismantle DEI Act
In June 2024, Vance sponsored the Dismantle DEI Act, which would ban federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
July 15, 2024: Trump chooses Vance as running mate
On July 15, 2024, the first day of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had chosen JD Vance as his running mate for the upcoming election.
July 2024: Senate Data
Data from mid-July 2024 showed that Vance had made 45 Senate speeches and sponsored 57 legislative bills, none of which had passed the Senate.
July 2024: Selected as Trump's Running Mate
In July 2024, Donald Trump selected Vance as his running mate for the Republican National Convention.
July 2024: Negative approval rating
In July 2024, after the Republican National Convention, a CNN poll analysis showed a net-negative approval rating for JD Vance, leading some to question his selection as a running mate.
July 2024: Vance comments on Harris
In late July 2024, after President Joe Biden withdrew from the election and Kamala Harris became a presidential candidate, Vance acknowledged at a private fundraiser that Kamala Harris did not have the same baggage as Joe Biden.
July 26, 2024: Vance clarifies 'childless cat ladies' remarks
On July 26, 2024, following criticism for a resurfaced 2021 Fox News interview, JD Vance clarified his remarks on The Megyn Kelly Show, stating it was not a criticism of people without children but about the Democratic Party becoming anti-family.
August 2024: Vance supports child tax credit
In August 2024, JD Vance stated on Face the Nation that he supported increasing the child tax credit from $2,000 to $5,000 per child.
August 2024: Vance on abortion ban
In August 2024, JD Vance stated that Donald Trump had explicitly said he would veto a national abortion ban, outlining their stance on a key political issue.
August 2024: Vance interview comments
In August 2024, following criticism of his past remarks and political positions, JD Vance stated in an interview that a vice president "doesn't really matter" and that "Kamala Harris has been a bad vice president."
September 2024: Trump responds to Vance's statement
In September 2024, during his debate with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump responded to JD Vance's earlier statement about vetoing a national abortion ban by saying he hadn't discussed it with Vance, creating uncertainty about their stance.
September 2024: Vance speaks at town hall
In late September 2024, JD Vance spoke at a western Pennsylvania town hall event organized by Lance Wallnau, who has promoted election denialism and called Kamala Harris a "demon".
October 1, 2024: Vice Presidential Debate
On October 1, 2024, the vice-presidential debate was held at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
October 2024: Vance questions 2020 election results
In October 2024, JD Vance publicly stated that he did not believe Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, alleging that "Big Tech rigged the election" through censorship.
January 3, 2025: End of Senate Term
Vance served as Ohio's junior senator from January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2025.
January 2025: End of Senate Term
January 2025 marks the end of Vance's term as a senator for Ohio.
January 20, 2025: Vance becomes Vice President
At noon on January 20, 2025, JD Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He also held a meeting with China's vice president Han Zheng before his inauguration.
February 2025: Comments on executive power
In February 2025, after multiple federal judges issued temporary rulings against Trump administration actions, JD Vance wrote that "judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power."
February 2025: Munich Security Conference speech
In his February 2025 speech at the Munich Security Conference (MSC), JD Vance stated that "the threat from within" Europe was his biggest concern in terms of security, "not Russia, not China".
February 20, 2025: Favorability rating
As of February 20, 2025, JD Vance's overall favorability was 40.7% and his unfavorability was 42.5%, according to FiveThirtyEight.
February 28, 2025: Meeting with Zelenskyy
On February 28, 2025, JD Vance and Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House's Oval Office. Vance argued for diplomacy, leading to a hostile exchange when Zelenskyy questioned the approach.
March 2025: Visit to Greenland
In March 2025, JD Vance became the first sitting U.S. vice president to visit Greenland, expressing interest in the U.S. acquiring Greenland and criticizing Denmark's investment in its security.
2025: Affiliation with Project 2025
In 2025, American Moment, on whose board Vance served from 2020 to 2023, is affiliated with Project 2025.
2025: Heritage Foundation advocacy
In 2025, The Heritage Foundation, which drafted Project 2025, privately advocated for Vance to be Trump's vice-presidential pick.
2025: Became Vice President
In 2025, Vance assumed the role of the 50th Vice President of the United States and served as finance chair of the Republican National Committee during his tenure.
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