WVXU: A look back at J.D. Vance's first year

UC political scientist weighs in on whether Ohio senator will step away from senate if Trump wins

According to a WVXU online article by Howard Wilkinson, “the news service Axios published a story listing Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as one of Trump's potential running mates in 2024 — or, at the very least, a significant cabinet position should Trump win a second term.”

Vance has brushed the possibility off, saying he will remain in the senate.

"They often change their minds if they are asked," UC’s political scientist David Niven says in the article, adding that Vance touts Trump as often as his Republican senate colleagues, but gets the most attention for doing so.

Wilkerson says that since taking office last January, Vance has consistently been Trump's voice in the Senate and a thorn in the side to his party's Senate leader, Mitch McConnell.

Niven is an associate professor in UC’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). He teaches American politics and conducts research on campaigns, political communication and death penalty policy.

Read the article 

Featured image of Niven at top. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand. 

Impact Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here

Related Stories

1

News Cincinnati loved in 2025

January 2, 2026

The story of prohibition bootlegger George Remus was among WLWT's favorite segments in 2025. UC Law Professor Christopher Bryant spoke with journalist Lindsay Stone about Remus using a temporary insanity defense during a murder trial.

2

What to know about this year’s big tax changes

January 2, 2026

Local 12 reported that taxpayers can expect some major changes this tax season. Gary Friedhoff, adjunct instructor at the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, recently spoke to Local 12 about how to avoid surprises.