Former President Donald Trump reportedly considered choosing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his running mate before ultimately selecting Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, a move that was officially announced on Monday (July 15), a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the New York Post.
A Trump campaign staffer also confirmed to the New York Post that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was among the top three finalists for the position. Trump’s decision to chose Vance over Rubio was made in part because of a residency issue as the 12th amendment restricts electoral college voters from casting ballots from president and vice presidents from the same home state, with the former president having relocated to Florida in 2019.
“The president just couldn’t get over the residency issue, just because of the legal issues that would inevitably come … There was just a conversation of ‘Alright, if that’s a hurdle we can’t get over, then understood,’” the source claimed.
Trump announced Vance as his running mate during the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday, two days after he was targeted in an assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I don’t know when he made the decision, but the calls went out (Monday),” the Trump campaign staffer told the New York Post. “All three of the candidates were incredible and the entire pool of candidates from the onset were just very strong.”
“I know Vance is obviously very well respected … He has an incredible background. He’s just very hard working and a huge defender of the president. I have not spoken to the the president today about the decision — the so many incredible qualities of J.D. Vance is why he was chosen,” the staffer added.
Vance, who turns 40 next month, would be the third-youngest vice president in American history if elected behind John C. Breckinridge and Richard Nixon.
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