Democrats Shift Gears, Target Vance as 2028 Contender
Democratic leaders are recalibrating their strategies, now setting their sights on Vice President JD Vance, even as Donald Trump remains a significant figure in their crosshairs.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear exemplified this shift during a recent fundraiser in Butler County, Ohio, Vance's home turf. Beshear accused the vice president of neglecting the communities he once depicted in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
“His book trafficked in tired stereotypes,” Beshear asserted, going further to label it “hillbilly hate.” He characterized Vance’s narrative as “poverty tourism,” emphasizing that Vance does not genuinely represent Appalachia.
This critique not only highlights Beshear’s own ambitions but also underscores Vance’s emerging role as a leading Republican figure, potentially inheriting Trump’s coalition.
“Every day brings us closer to a time when Trump is no longer president. We must prepare for that moment,” stated Democratic strategist Lis Smith. “JD Vance is clearly the front-runner for 2028, and we need to start defining him now.”
Vance's spokesperson, Taylor Van Kirk, dismissed Beshear's comments as self-serving. “Every time Andy Beshear attacks the vice president for publicity, he ends up embarrassing himself,” she remarked.
U.S. Representative Ro Khanna was among the first to spotlight Vance last year, delivering speeches at Yale and the City Club of Cleveland that painted Vance as more extreme than Trump.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also targeted Vance in November, arguing that the Trump administration was indifferent to working-class concerns. “At least Trump is transparent about it,” Shapiro said. “JD Vance is a total phony.”
Some Democrats are rallying around California Governor Gavin Newsom as a formidable candidate due to his aggressive tactics against Republicans. He coined the term “JD ‘Just Dance’ Vance” on social media and mocked Vance’s appearance, suggesting he “grew a beard and lost his spine.”
Smith noted that every critique of Vance serves as an audition for potential candidates. “There’s value in confronting Vance to show Democrats that they could be on the debate stage against him,” she explained.
Vance, who grew up in Middletown, Butler County, gained prominence with Hillbilly Elegy in 2016, which helped elucidate Trump’s appeal among rural white voters. This background will likely play a crucial role in any future presidential campaign, and Democrats are keen to undermine it.
At the Democratic fundraiser, the mere mention of Vance elicited boos from attendees. “I don’t think he has the magic that people associate with Trump,” remarked Theresa Vacheresse, a retired physician. “When Trump is gone, Democrats might have a chance. I hope so.”
Targeting a vice president seen as a potential nominee is not unusual; Republicans previously aimed at Kamala Harris early in her term to weaken her political future.
Jamal Simmons, Harris’ communications director during 2022-2023, noted that vice presidents can be vulnerable. “The party is structured to defend the president more than the vice president,” he said.
Republicans, including Vance, often linked Harris to challenging issues like immigration and border security.
“Being vice president is a mixed blessing,” said David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Obama. “You lack the president's advantages but inherit their record—good and bad.”
Beshear stands out as a Democrat leading a red state and aims to connect with voters who have distanced themselves from his party. He believes Democrats can reclaim voters that Vance condescends to if they focus on fundamental needs like affordable healthcare and public safety.
“We need to engage with people rather than talk at them,” he emphasized. “That’s how I won counties in eastern Kentucky that typically vote Republican by large margins.”
The audience responded positively to Beshear’s message. “He’s first-rate,” said Butler County resident Mark Kaplan. “He combines compassion, empathy, charisma, and intellect with a down-to-earth approach.”
