JACKSON, Ky. — Former President Donald Trump named Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. The Republican vice-presidential candidate might be from Kentucky’s northern neighbor, but Vance has deep ties to the Commonwealth.
Sen. Vance represents Ohio in Congress. However, despite being born in Middletown, Ohio, Trump’s running mate considers Kentucky his home. Stephen Bowling, director of the Breathitt County Library, said Vance spent the summers in Kentucky with his grandparents.
“When he felt of the one place, he felt safe and he felt that he could call home. It was Breathitt County. It was Panbowl Branch here in Jackson,” Bowling said.
According to Vance, his mother struggled with drug addiction during his childhood. Bowling said Vance’s family roots can be traced to eastern Kentucky. According to Bowling, Vance’s mother’s side of the family settled in Breathitt County and his biological dad’s family settled in nearby Owsley County.
“He’s related to the Taulbees, the Blantons and several other prominent families here locally. He can trace his families’ time in Breathitt County back to the early 1800s. They were some of the earliest settlers of Breathitt County who helped carve this county out of pure wilderness,” Bowling said.
Some of his relatives might still be in Breathitt County. Joe Profitt claims he could be cousins with the junior senator from Ohio.
“(Vance’s) His real name is Bowman, but he took his grandparent’s last name because they raised him. I’m doing research right now, but I’d say there’s a real good chance,” Profitt said.
Vance was born James Donald Bowman. Vance adopted the surname “Vance” in honor of his grandparents.
Profitt said his mother’s maiden name was also Bowman. The Vietnam War veteran and longtime Breathitt Countian hopes Vance brings national awareness of issues plaguing Appalachia.
“Not handouts, but people that need help, help them. He’s in a position to do that,” Profitt said. “There’s a lot of people here. They don’t have the opportunity and if he could do some work and open up opportunities for people back here, we would not be in the poverty-stricken place we are.”
Bowling said Vance continues to visit the hollers when time allows.
“Mountain people are very different. There’s a certain something in their should that draws them back here and it keeps bringing JD back here,” Bowling said. “He’s said in several places that someday, when his time is put in, he wants to come back to Breathitt County and buried here.”
Vance has detailed some of his life in eastern Kentucky in his book, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Vance’s maternal grandmother, biological father and other relatives are all buried in eastern Kentucky.