JD Vance Backtracks on Comments Proposing More Votes for Parents

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has recently distanced himself from his previous comments suggesting that individuals with children should be granted additional voting power. Vance now characterizes his earlier proposal as a mere "thought experiment" rather than a serious policy proposal.

The controversy began with a 2021 speech by Vance, which gained renewed attention recently. In that address to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Vance argued that people with children should have "more power" in voting than those without. He contended that those without children might lack a sufficient investment in the future of the country, implying they should have a diminished voice in electoral matters.

"Let's face the consequences and the reality: If you don't have as much of an investment in the future of this country, maybe you shouldn't get nearly the same voice," Vance had stated.

In a Sunday interview on ABC News' *This Week*, Vance clarified his stance. He explained that his earlier comments were not intended as a concrete policy proposal but rather as a reaction to discussions about lowering the voting age in the U.S.

"It's a thought experiment," Vance said. "Democrats suggested giving children the right to vote. In response, I proposed that if children were to vote, perhaps their parents should control those votes. I trust parents more with such decisions than, say, a 14-year-old. So, it was really just a hypothetical."

Since being selected as the GOP's 2024 vice presidential candidate, Vance has faced ongoing scrutiny for his past remarks on various topics, including women, abortion, and individuals without children. This criticism has been compounded by his negative net approval ratings since his addition to Donald Trump's ticket, leading to speculation that Trump might have second thoughts about his choice.

Trump and his team have consistently denied any regret over selecting Vance, asserting that Trump is "thrilled" with his running mate.

What We Know:

The clip of Vance’s 2021 remarks, where he suggested enhancing the voting power of parents, resurfaced and went viral in July. During that speech, Vance proposed that parents should have greater electoral influence compared to those without children, arguing that they have a greater stake in the country's future.

The video gained additional attention following another controversial 2021 interview in which Vance criticized Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, labeling them as "childless cat ladies" who, in his view, were unhappy with their lives and wanted to make others miserable.

Harris, the Democratic Party’s 2024 nominee, has two stepchildren through her husband, Doug Emhoff.

In his ABC News interview, Vance reiterated that his remarks were intended to express a viewpoint rather than to advocate for actual legislation. "I’ve been a senator for two years. Have I proposed any legislation related to this? Of course not," he said. "If it were a policy proposal, I would have presented it during my time in the Senate."

When questioned about whether he regretted his comments, Vance responded, "I regret that the media and the Kamala Harris campaign have distorted what I said. They’ve turned it into a policy proposal I never made. I want us to be more pro-family, and I believe that having children offers a different perspective. However, the notion that I want to change the voting system to give children the right to vote and then have their parents control those votes is absurd. I never proposed that."

Vance also criticized Harris and his Democratic rival, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I enjoyed answering tough questions from major networks today," Vance wrote. "Kamala Harris has faced as many tough interviews as Tim Walz has battlefield deployments."

Views:

Columnist Skylar Baker-Jordan questioned the origins of Vance's comments, asking on X, "JD Vance said his proposal was in response to Democrats wanting to give children the vote. Which Democrats? I haven’t heard this argument."

What’s Next:

A vice presidential debate between Vance and Walz has not yet been scheduled. Vance has previously stated he will only agree to a debate once Walz is confirmed as his party’s vice presidential nominee.