# Could Vance get elected on his own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [October 3, 2024, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397 "2024-10-03T06:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/21 "2024-10-03T17:55:26Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > A very slightly kinder and gentler Cyrus II would do fine. I don’t see Vance as being any kinder or gentler than Trump. He’d be worse. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/22 "2024-10-03T17:58:07Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Trump has tried to get people to vote for other candidates when he is not on the ballot already, he has a very very poor track record. Media I read usually says Trump has a mixed record there. For example: > **[By the numbers: How Trump-backed candidates fared in the midterms](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/numbers-trump-backed-candidates-fared-midterms-rcna61524)** > > In the final tally, most of Trump’s preferred candidates won but had mixed results in competitive races.  Trump has high disapproval polling levels. So did Harris — before she became the top-of-ticket nominee. Vance would get an even bigger new-nominee bounce due to a sympathy vote. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/23 "2024-10-03T18:01:42Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I don’t see Vance as being any kinder or gentler than Trump. He’d be worse. There’s an excellent chance we’ll find out whether the median voter agrees with you. After his debate performance, I think J. D. is the favorite for the 2028 GOP nomination — regardless of who wins next month. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/24 "2024-10-03T18:34:15Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > If Trump were to die today, it’s almost certainly too late to replace him on the ballots. So people would have to vote for Trump with the understanding that JD would ultimately receive those electoral votes. > > But, it’s not guaranteed that electors so chosen would support JD. Absent “faithless elector” laws, electors are free to vote for whomever they please. I’m sure that the vast majority of any Trump electors would support Vance, but if it’s a close vote in the electoral college all it would take are a few gone rogue to throw the election to the House. It depends on the state. The California Election Code requires that all electors puedge to “mark my ballots for President and Vice President for the nominees for those offices of the party that nominated me.” Rule 9(a) of the Rules of the Republican Party state, “The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.” Never mind what the names are on the ballot. The people are voting for electors, who, in turn, will vote for whomever their party tells them to vote for. Besides - if they could vote for Vance for President, who would they vote for for Vice-President? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/25 "2024-10-03T18:40:56Z")
Don Jr? All of the name, none of the fame. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/26 "2024-10-03T18:45:14Z")
Maybe someday he will recount his journey from Peter Thiel’s poolboy to Vice-presidential candidate. Maybe Opie can redeem himself. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/27 "2024-10-03T20:47:06Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > It depends on the state. The California Election Code requires that all electors puedge to “mark my ballots for President and Vice President for the nominees for those offices of the party that nominated me.” Yep. Some states have faithless elector laws, some don’t. Some states with faithless elector laws clearly specify the electors’ obligation if the candidate dies, some don’t. Realistically, any Republican elector is going to vote for the candidate named by the RNC per Rule 9(a) to fill the vacancy created by Trump’s death. And presumably, if that candidate is Vance, he would immediately decline his VP nomination which would allow the RNC to fill the now vacant VP nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/28 "2024-10-03T21:44:33Z")
If Trump wins this year, he will run again 2028. XXIII Amendment be damned. If a state tries to keep him off the ballot, SCOTUS will say in a 7-2 decision written by Chief Justice Cannon that no amendment is self-executing and that, unless congress has passed a specific act to allow it, no state may exclude a candidate. Then the EC votes and congress accepts it. Who can prevent this from happening? See, I can spin a CT with the best of them. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/29 "2024-10-04T12:27:53Z")
No. Cats and dogs will make sure their owners vote. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/30 "2024-10-04T13:41:41Z")
Vance did run for office two years ago and he won in Ohio by ~6 points. For Ohio that really isn’t great and was much worse than all other Republicans running for state office in Ohio, so I see no reason to think he would be particularly appealing presidential candidate. He might sound smart, but I don’t really see much evidence that sounding smart is something MAGA republicans really care about. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/31 "2024-10-04T13:43:48Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Who can prevent this from happening? Democratically run states that see this coming, and pass such laws. Keep him off enough ballots, and he’ll likely lose. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/32 "2024-10-04T14:15:09Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > He certainly is hoping for just such an event. I think he’s more likely to hope that Trump dies after the election. Assuming Trump wins, if it is before the EVs are cast there is a good chance he will get Trump’s EV and so technically it satisfies the OP. If after the EVs ae cast then he will definitely become President as the elected VP. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/33 "2024-10-04T14:24:16Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > think he’s more likely to hope that Trump dies after the election. Assuming Trump wins, if it is before the EVs are cast there is a good chance he will get Trump’s EV and so technically it satisfies the OP. If after the EVs ae cast then he will definitely become President as the elected VP. yeah, this. He despises Trump and is nakedly ambitious. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/34 "2024-10-04T14:25:36Z")
I don’t think that’s as crazy as it sounds except DC electors are not in play here so I think you mean XXII amendment. SCOTUS could say that the ban is on electing a President a third time but that does not ban them from running. Also, people do not elect the President, the Electoral College does so again, winning the election based on people voting is not electing them. The election is when the electors meet in their respective capitals (and Washington DC) and vote. But wait! We have upheld that states can prevent faithless electors AND I do not believe any state has a law banning electors from voting against those ineligible for the Office of President. And what does it mean to “be elected”? Isn’t that when the Vice-President counts the votes? And as pointed out many times, Congress has no way to disqualify votes as long as the EVs were properly submitted by the States. SCOTUS punts and says it is not our responsibility to write the laws it implement the Constitution, we just interpret the laws as written. We can’t declare an unwritten law as unconstitutional. Oh and it ends up that according to SCOTUS, no one has standing to challenge the election under the 22nd Amendment. See Zone of Death if it ever gets to SCOTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/35 "2024-10-04T15:11:55Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > He despises Trump See, I don’t agree with this. His talk is cheap. What has he done to prove it? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/36 "2024-10-04T15:54:38Z")
If Vance is a true opportunist (and I see nothing to dispel that notion), he’s got a nose for what works. He might well have thought little to nothing of trump back in 2016, figuring he was a cheap sideshow whose schtick had no legs. Once he saw the schtick worked, and worked in spades, he wanted to be that guy too. So now he’s playing suck-up apprentice. Hoping to be the guy standing conveniently next to the throne when the King topples over from one too many hamberders. Meanwhile his bread stays buttered by buttering (fluffing?) up trump at every opportunity. So you (generic you) won’t see Vance saying nasty stuff in public about trump now. His private thoughts and fondest wishes are IMO a different matter. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/37 "2024-10-04T19:55:06Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > He might sound smart, but I don’t really see much evidence that sounding smart is something MAGA republicans really care about. Agreed. But what Vance genuinely has–and MAGA senses–is a natural viciousness. All those comments he’s made about women stem from his profound resentment against women. His grievances. Women should not have the power to even _frown_ at him, much less do anything else. They have no right to agency. They must be controlled. JD has this part of the MAGA mindset down pat. And he has the racial animus, too—but we don’t see as many comments from years ago proving his sense of grievance against the non-white. No doubt he feels it, but it’s not as deep-seated as his resentment of female people. But I suspect that the MAGA faithful are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, there. They know he’s got the white-supremacy chops. It may not be what he lives-and-breathes as much as the anti-female stuff is, but: he’s got it. And that’s what they want and need. _They know they can count on JD to hurt the people they want hurt._ So, yes: he could get elected on his own. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/38 "2024-10-04T21:15:08Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Democratically run states that see this coming, and pass such laws. Keep him off enough ballots, and he’ll likely lose. You forget that Scotus has ruled that, absent a specific of congress, a state cannot keep a candidate off the ballot just because the state thinks he is ineligible. Of course, that was about the insurrection clause of the XIV Amendment, but how does that differ from the XXnd? ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397/39 "2024-10-04T23:09:24Z")
I like how the pic of Vance has to say “JD” on his jacket, lest we forget who is depicted 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-vance-get-elected-on-his-own/1008397.md?page=1)