Democrats sharpen criticism of Vance before the 2028 White House campaign
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Some Democratic leaders are shifting focus from President Trump to Vice President JD Vance as a key Republican figure to challenge in future elections, with Vance seen as a potential 2028 presidential nominee.
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear criticized Vance's memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," accusing him of perpetuating stereotypes and abandoning the Appalachian communities he wrote about, signaling Beshear's own presidential ambitions.
- Democrats like Rep. Ro Khanna, Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Gov. Gavin Newsom have begun targeting Vance, portraying him as more extreme than Trump and questioning his authenticity and connection to working-class voters.
- Vance's working-class background and "Hillbilly Elegy" narrative have been central to
