CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The Republican National Convention begins Sunday in Milwaukee and could be of great interest to our region, as one of the finalists for vice president is from Ohio.

Senator JD Vance (R-OH) is on the “final three” list for former President Donald Trump’s vice presidency. The others are Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND). Vance could get the nod because Ohio is a crucial swing state.

Some West Virginia delegates are already in Milwaukee for the party convention and are reacting to the possibility that JD Vance could be on the ballot.

“I have seen Senator Vance. He is a staunch Republican. He also represents the beliefs of our Republican Party and our platform. He is a smart person who can take on this role and would do an excellent job,” said Beth Bloch, a member of the Republican National Committee from West Virginia.

Trump could name his vice presidential candidate at the party’s convention, which begins in Milwaukee on Sunday, but it may happen beforehand.

Senator Vance, a 39-year-old graduate of Ohio State University and Yale University, rose to national prominence in 2016 when he wrote the book “Hillbilly Elegy” about poverty and addiction problems in Appalachia. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Never before has a Republican in this country captured the White House without winning the crucial swing state of Ohio.