Republican veep nominee JD Vance said Monday that Vice President Kamala Harris is a “threat to Democracy” because she will likely be chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee without voter input.
The senator, speaking in Ohio at his first solo rally after being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate, argued that Trump made his “case to voters” and was nominated as the GOP presidential nominee despite “good competition.”
If Harris is named the Democratic nominee to replace President Biden without voter input, that thwarts the Democratic process, Vance said.
“The idea of selecting the Democratic Party’s nominee because George Soros and Barack Obama and a couple of elite Democrats got in a smoke-filled room and decided to throw Joe Biden overboard? That is not how it works,” the Ohio pol said in his hometown of Middletown, the day after Biden dropped out of the race.
“That is a threat to Democracy, not the Republican Party, which is fighting for Democracy every single day,” Vance said.
Voters will not have direct input in deciding the Democratic nominee since Biden dropped out after the race after primary elections were held and he garnered their votes.
Now, with weeks to go before the Democratic National Convention, the DNC will either do a virtual voice call with delegates in the first week of August and vote Harris in as the nominee to avoid issues with state ballot deadlines, or delegates will vote for Harris or a possible other candidate at the convention.
Either way, party voters will not directly decide who will replace Biden, with the choice to select Harris or someone else left up to the Democratic National Convention delegates.
What to know about President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race — after weeks of prominent Democrats and donors calling on him to withdraw following his disastrous performance in the first presidential debate.
- In a letter posted on X Sunday afternoon, Biden admitted that it is in the “best interest of my party and country” for him to step down as the Democratic nominee.
- Biden wrote that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and will address the country on his decision later this week.
- In a follow-up X post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the suddenly open Democratic nomination. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” the president wrote.
- Former President Donald Trump reacted to the news by labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” in a call with CNN.
“My message to Democrats who are disgusted by this process, disgusted by how anti-Democratic it is, you are welcome in the Republican Party, where we think we should persuade voters and not lie to voters,” Vance said at his rally.
Vance, 39, also spoke at length about his Ohio background and stressed that Harris is not “grateful” for America.
He began with a long story about growing up in Middletown, Ohio, with his “Mamaw” — his grandmother who raised him and played a large part in his success. The Ohio senator first gained fame in 2016 after writing his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, which spoke about his rough childhood and how his Appalachian community was ravaged by policies coming out of Washington.
The latest on President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- Biden drops out of presidential race after Democratic revolt following disastrous debate: ‘Best interest of the country’
- Biden drops out of presidential race: live updates
- NY Dems are already lining up behind Kamala Harris to replace Biden — with these big exceptions
- Biden delayed dropping out partly because he doubted Harris’ chances against Trump: report
- Miranda Devine: Joe Biden is too frail to run in 2024 but he’s still our president?
“She was tough and she was disciplined, and she is the reason why I’ve had so many of the good opportunities that I’ve had in my life. But people don’t realize she was an incredibly sweet and kind and caring person too,” Vance said of his grandmother.
Trump has stressed Vance’s background as a reason for why he chose him as his running mate, because he encapsulates the American Dream.
Vance spoke about the American Dream during his speech, reiterating some points he made during the Republican National Convention about the importance of family and his hometown, while contrasting his beliefs with those of Harris.
“And look, of course, every country, just like every family, certainly mine, has its pockmarks, right? Not everything’s perfect. It’s never going to be. But you, if you want to lead this country, you should feel grateful for it. You should feel a sense of gratitude. And I never hear that gratitude come through when I listen to Kamala Harris,” Vance said.
He also said he was “pissed off” that he no longer will debate Harris and that she will now go up against Trump in the presidential debate.