Updated as of 9:57 p.m. on Oct. 10 to include comment from a representative of the North Carolina Coordinated Campaign in response to JD Vance visiting Greensboro.
Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance made a campaign stop in Greensboro on Oct. 10 at the Koury Convention Center. Vance is expected to speak on his economic and immigration policies, as well as criticize the Biden-Harris administration for hurricane relief efforts.
This is Vance’s fifth stop in North Carolina since becoming former President Donald Trump’s running mate, and his appearance occurs less than four weeks ahead of election day.
Elon News Network attempted to get access to the event at the gate but was turned away.
Gibsonville resident Pamela Baker, who retired from Elon University in 2012 from the school of communications, attended the event with Gibsonville resident Sandra Hart and said she was looking forward to hearing Vance’s stance on certain issues.
“One of the biggest things is our economy. Everybody's worried about the economy. Another one is the border,” Baker said. “I like their stance on the border and the economy, and we know that Donald Trump can do it because he was in there for four years.”
Hart agreed and said in addition to supporting Trump and Vance’s pro-life abortion stance, she also felt like they listen to people in rural communities.
“We live in a small community, but we have similar views as the big cities and we like to be heard,” Hart said. “Trump and JD Vance really listen to the people — the people in the small communities.”
Desiree and Taven Kusztyb traveled about an hour from their hometown of Yadkinville, North Carolina, to attend the event.
“I supported Trump in 2020. I'm here to support Vance as well,” Desiree said. “I was honestly on the fence about Vance in the beginning, but especially with that debate, it kind of sealed me with his answers. And also too, I do have some questions about the western North Carolina relief that will hopefully happen a little bit better and with more determination than the current administration.”
Desiree also said she thinks North Carolina will play a pivotal role in the election and is glad that the Trump administration continues to make stops statewide.
“We really do have diverse point of views here. I truly do feel like right now North Carolina is very much a swing state,” Desiree said. “It's good to get the word out there and also introduce the people to himself … especially in a diverse, political community such as Greensboro.”
Allie Zuliani, representative of the North Carolina Democrats coordinated campaign communications team, contacted Elon News Network with information about a virtual meeting held by Harris-Walz campaign co-chair Mitch Landrieu, former Trump Administration official Kevin Carroll, U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning and North Carolina state Sen. Michael Garrett in response to Vance’s visit to Greensboro.
According to Zuliani, the conference was intended to “call out Trump’s record of denying disaster aid to North Carolina and playing politics with disaster relief, as well as his, Vance, and their MAGA ally Mark Robinson’s extreme Project 2025 agenda to gut future disaster relief and preparation.”
“Today’s speakers delivered a clear message to North Carolinians: Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Mark Robinson have politicized Hurricane Helene, spreading misinformation and lies, while covering up their own disturbing records on disaster relief,” Zuliani wrote to Elon News Network. “The Harris-Walz ticket is the only choice to ensure that disaster relief is never politicized and always centers those who are impacted – no matter what their zip code or party affiliation is.”
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Anjolina Fantaroni and Trista Panagakos contributed to the reporting of this story.