COLUMBUS, Ohio — JD Vance used his background and upbringing, in his first speech as the Republican Vice President nominee, as a tool to win over battleground states last night

Vance’s Ohio roots were a major theme in his speech last night. He addressed the needs he had growing up, the need he sees now and the need he hopes to address if the Republican ticket wins this fall. After officially accepting the nomination to be the RNC’s choice as vice president, Vance began focusing on the needs of Midwestern Americans. 

He explained the frustration that people in the region had with being “cast aside and forgotten by America’s ruling class in Washington.” He mentioned how sending jobs overseas affected Americans in places like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. His promise to Americans, specifically Midwesterners, was that he and Donald Trump would not only bring back jobs, but address immigration and do whatever is necessary to make their lives better. 

“President Trump’s vision is simple. We won’t cater to Wall Street. We’ll commit to the working man,” said Vance in his address to those at the RNC. “We won’t import foreign labor. We’ll fight for American citizens. We won’t buy energy from countries that hate us. We’ll get it right here from American workers in Pennsylvania and Ohio and across the country.”

Vance also mentioned the Republican party’s tactics on handling foreign affairs and the need to put working Americans first with jobs, housing and overall opportunities. He ended his speech by reminding middle America that he’d never forget where he came from and would be taking their struggles with him to the White House, if elected. Former president Trump is expected to formally accept the nomination as the Republican candidate for president and give his speech Thursday.