MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — After only a year and a half as a U.S. Senator, Ohio's JD Vance could be the next Vice President of the United States. Former President Donald Trump picked the 39-year-old as his running mate Monday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Vance helped put his hometown of Middletown, Ohio on the national map in 2016 with his memoir "Hillbilly Elegy." Some Middletown residents say he's doing it again as the GOP vice presidential nominee.
The southwest Ohio town of 51,000 sits between Dayton and Cincinnati. It proudly displays its hometown heroes, its veterans, on downtown lampposts. For many here, Trump's choice of the Marine Corps veteran and native son is another point of pride.
"I think it will be awesome just for the city," Middletown resident Robert Ayen said. "I did vote for him when he ran for Senate and he seems to a good guy from what I've seen of him."
The lunchtime crowd at The Jug restaurant on Middletown's Central Avenue kept server Kenny busy, but he took two minutes to give his two cents.
"I think it's awesome that he started in politics and now he's already going to become vice president," Kenny said.
Ronald Downs, 81, was born in Middletown. He said he thinks "it's cool" Vance is from his city.
"I don't know much about JD Vance, but I'm definitely a Trump guy," Downs said, adding that he is now going to read up on Vance.
Chris Lester was born here, too.
"I think it's great no matter which side you're on," Lester said. "It's good news for Middletown. It's a great thing absolutely. He's young and he'll be a good choice."
A handful of people 10TV talked to did not want to go on camera either because they don't know much about Vance or they don't like his and Trump's politics or policies.
Just around the corner at Java Johnny's Coffee Roaster and Cafe we met Middletown Rotary Club President Stuart Locke minutes after the club's meeting let out. He likes Vance's relative youth and what he has heard about him.
"You know we're dealing with two presidential candidates that are 78 and over," Locke said. "Knowing people in the community that do know him, he's the genuine article and he's going to be a great vice president."
A couple people looked ahead, noting that, if the Republican ticket wins the November election, their hometown guy could someday be president.