Article by Eleanor Shaw with additional reporting by Abby Allard, Alexa Bonilla, Jordan Cooper and McKenna Schonbrun. Photos by McLaren Reed
MILWAUKEE — Decked in red, white and blue, Virginians cruised through the Republican National Convention this week. Now, they excitedly await what’s next for former President Donald Trump and his campaign.
With wide grins, the Republicans each described their time in Milwaukee rubbing shoulders with prominent conservative politicians — an experience all said was overwhelmingly positive.
“Just a lovefest,” said Darrell Smith, alternative delegate of Arlington. “Everybody is so friendly, so kind, like-minded and willing to exchange business cards and ideas.”
The delegates and alternative delegates said they appreciated being surrounded by like-minded people and engaging in political dialogue.
Randy Gilbert of Shenandoah, a delegate from the 6th Congressional District, said his favorite part of the convention was seeing Trump in person, particularly because Gilbert has supported Trump since 2015. The speakers’ energy and passion also resonated with Gilbert.
Here are their other convention takeaways.
Vance: Previously unknown but not unwelcome
Virginia Republicans agreed that vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance’s story — as chronicled in his bestselling book, “Hillbilly Elegy” — is magnetizing. The Ohio senator’s youth compared with other candidates and his military service add to Vance’s allure.
“One of the things J.D. talks about is the forgotten man,” Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said. “He knows what it is to come from an impoverished background. He knows what it’s like to fight and scrap.”
Despite this, some attendees weren’t initially enthusiastic about Vance’s nomination.
“I don’t know if I was necessarily supporting J.D. Vance to be [Trump’s] first pick, and I think a lot of people were surprised that he was chosen,” Smith said.
Smith said he’s come around to Vance, adding that the senator’s conservative values would make him a strong vice president.
John Reid of Virginia Beach, a delegate from the 2nd Congressional District, said he trusts Trump’s decision, especially after Vance’s rousing address on Wednesday.
Vance’s remarks also resonated with 5th Congressional District Delegate Marcie Clifton of Louisa.
“The speech he gave was so thoughtful,” Clifton said. “He’s one of us. He’s ‘We the people.’”
Trump: Supporters hope for recalibration
Clifton said she’s seen “such a difference” between America under Trump and America under President Joe Biden.
Other Virginia Republicans echoed her sentiment and emphasized the economy. Both Smith and Bishop Leon Benjamin of Richmond encouraged voters to look at their pockets and determine whether they had more money pre- or post-Biden’s inauguration.
Similarly, Reid said he hopes Trump will use his presidency to cut federal spending and keep bureaucrats in check.
“I think Donald Trump learned a lesson four years ago and I think he is going to come in and, hopefully, recalibrate the nature of [Washington, D.C.],” Reid said.
On a personality level, Virginia Republicans said they believe Trump is an honest, unstoppable candidate who listens to Americans.
“[Republicans] want a good life, we really do,” Gilbert said. “I have kids and grandkids and I want them to enjoy America just like I did.”
Who’s after Biden? Not the GOP’s problem
Even before news broke Sunday that President Joe Biden was withdrawing from the presidential race, many Republicans were open with their criticism of the president but reluctant to weigh in on whether they wanted Biden to step down or continue running against Trump.
Reid said he viewed Biden as a formidable presidential candidate — in 2020. As Biden’s term progressed, Reid said it became “more and more obvious” that “someone else was doing his job.”
Now, much like other Virginia Republicans, Reid said he thinks Biden is “too old” and “should step down.”
However, the consensus among many Republicans was that Biden — or what happens next with the Democrats — wasn’t their party’s problem.
“Democracy’s a beautiful thing, [Democrats] have their own convention in a couple of weeks in Chicago where they’ll get to figure that out,” Miyares said.
Editor’s note: This coverage is being produced as part of a partnership between JMU’s School of Media Arts and Design and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters. A team of JMU students is reporting from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
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