#JD Vance snags big GOP endorsement

Ohio Republican Senate candidate JD Vance scored a major endorsement this week as Rep. Jim Banks, the head of the Republican Study Committee, committed to back his run.

Banks (R-IN) told Axios that Vance “isn’t afraid to stand up to the woke elites and will always put middle- and working-class Ohioans first” — further praising the candidate for standing up to “big tech.”

The Republican Study Committee, led by Banks, is the largest group of GOP members in the House.

Vance is locked in a primary battle with several other candidates including State Treasurer Josh Mandel, who currently leads in the polling, and Ohio GOP Party Chair Jane Timken.

All of the major candidates for the seat are vying for the endorsement of Donald Trump, who back in March, before Vance announced his candidacy, sat down with both Mandel and Timken.

Vance, a venture capitalist, was initially opposed to the presidency of Donald Trump, but like many Republicans he has since come around, saying “I’ve been very open that I did say those critical things and I regret them, and I regret being wrong about the guy.”

Internal polling reviewed by Axios shows that the author of the bestselling book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” and first time political candidate is rising in popularity. Back in June he netted a meager 4 percent, but that is now up to 12 percent putting him in second place behind Mandel with 21 percent.

The Banks endorsement comes on the heels of the up and coming congressman being rejected, along with Rep. Jim Jordan, by Speaker Nancy Pelosi for membership on the select committee investigating the Capitol Riot.

In response to the blockage of two of his five picks for the committee, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy pulled all of his selections, leaving a committee comprised of only members chosen by Democrat Pelosi.