JD Vance Heads To Washington DC

This week, Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) is set to visit Washington, D.C., where he will be vying for the attention and support of America’s top business leaders, alongside Governor Tim Walz (D-MN). Both Vance and Walz are slated to speak at the Business Roundtable’s event on Thursday morning, with Walz representing Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Business Roundtable is a prestigious organization that includes influential figures from major tech companies, many of which Vance has criticized in the past. Michael Steel, a spokesman for the Roundtable, highlighted that inviting both Vance and Walz underscores the group’s commitment to engaging with policymakers from both sides of the aisle.

Vance, who has been notably absent from Capitol Hill since being chosen by former President Donald Trump as his running mate in July, has a busy week ahead. His schedule includes stops in Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. His participation in the Roundtable event follows Trump’s recent speech in June, where Trump pledged to cut corporate tax rates and reduce regulatory burdens.

In addition to his business-focused visit, Vance will be attending a fundraising dinner with Senate Republicans on Wednesday. The guest list for this event includes key Senate GOP leaders, such as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), with whom Vance has had some disagreements, particularly over foreign aid to Ukraine.

Vance’s Washington visit coincides with ongoing debates in Congress about a short-term extension for government funding. Trump has suggested that Republicans should push for a government shutdown if Democrats refuse to pass a proof-of-citizenship voting bill—a sentiment Vance supported during a recent conservative podcast appearance.

Despite the high-profile discussions, critical legislation such as the rail safety bill Vance co-authored with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) remains stalled. Senate Democrats have focused on other priorities, including judicial confirmations and messaging bills, while Vance’s absence, along with that of three other Republicans, has allowed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to advance judicial nominees more swiftly.

As Congress prepares for a break in October to facilitate election campaigning, it remains to be seen how these competing agendas will shape the remainder of the legislative session.