JD Vance

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed it produced the controversial ad featuring Dr. Amy Acton's long-estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who calls her daughter "a liar." The campaign is spending $4 million to run the ad statewide and has declined to pull it despite bipartisan condemnation. Acton's brother says the siblings were removed from their mother's custody as children after their stepfather was indicted for raping Acton between ages 9 and 12. Gov. Mike DeWine called the ad "deeply, deeply troubling" and urged Ramaswamy to take it down while keeping his endorsement; Sen. Jon Husted and former Rep. Jim Renacci also criticized it, warning of a GOP backlash. VP JD Vance dismissed the outcry as "whining," and President Trump defended Ramaswamy, calling the mother's hostility "unusual." Acton leads polling in a race drawing over $120 million in outside spending.

Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native and longtime Cincinnati Bengals fan, visited the team's practice facility with his son ahead of a midterms campaign rally supporting Republican candidates, including gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy. A video circulating on social media showed most players walking past Vance with little to no acknowledgment, though tight end Drew Sample stopped to shake his hand and talk. The clip drew heavy online reaction, with commentators and social media users characterizing the moment as a snub by the majority of the roster. Neither Vance's office nor the Bengals had issued comment at the time of reporting.

Four Henderson County, N.C., schools — Sugarloaf Elementary, Edneyville Elementary, Apple Valley Middle, and North Henderson High — dismissed early at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 ahead of a Vice President J.D. Vance campaign stop in the area. Superintendent Mark Garrett said the North Carolina State Highway Patrol notified the district the day before of planned road closures around Highway 64 for Vance's visit and security plan, prompting the schedule change to clear buses and traffic.

Vance was scheduled to appear at a noon event on Chestnut Gap Road, where he was expected to endorse Republican Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in her race against Democrat Jamie Ager for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Early voting runs through Oct. 31, with Election Day Nov. 3.

Vice President JD Vance held a midterm campaign rally in Tyler, Texas, on behalf of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general, who faces Democratic state Representative James Talarico in the general election. During the event, Vance announced a Trump administration partnership with Delek Refining to expand its Tyler facility, framing it as a boost to energy supply, jobs, and transportation costs.

Vance used the rally to highlight Paxton's record as attorney general, including lawsuits against the Biden administration, actions against pharmaceutical companies over drug safety claims, border enforcement efforts, and his role in ending transgender medical treatments for minors at a major Texas hospital. He also attacked Talarico over past comments on gender, race, policing, and diet, portraying him as out of step with Texas voters and aligned with progressive Democrats in Congress.

The race is one of several competitive Senate contests shaping up ahead of the midterms, with both parties working to energize their bases in a state Republicans have long controlled but Democrats see as increasingly competitive.

The list of Republicans weighing 2028 presidential bids is growing as President Trump's approval ratings decline and Democrats appear favored for a strong showing in the November midterms. Sen. John Kennedy recently joined a field that already includes former Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Rand Paul, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Ted Cruz, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and possibly Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Some hopefuls are positioning themselves to inherit the MAGA base, including Donald Trump Jr., who denies interest but polls strongly among hypothetical candidates. Others, like Christie, are distancing themselves from Trump's legacy, arguing Vice President J.D. Vance would be hurt by association with an unpopular administration.

Polling shows Vance still leads the GOP field but has lost ground, with Trump Jr. gaining support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also draw notable backing, while Nikki Haley says she won't run. Cruz and Vance have publicly sparred, with most contenders waiting on midterm results before deciding.