Vance rallies Republicans in Kinston ahead of Nov. 3 election
Vice President JD Vance urged Eastern North Carolina voters to support Republican candidates Wednesday, pairing memories of his Marine Corps service with a closing campaign message focused on jobs, public safety and the role of government.
Vance headlined the Oct. 28 rally at the Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field, six days before Election Day. The appearance brought national attention to the region as Republicans pushed to turn out voters for U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout. The rally was announced earlier this week.
“I want young people to be able to afford a home,” Vance said. “I want my kids to raise a family in a country that is vibrant and thriving and free and prosperous.”
Vance opened with a personal connection to Eastern North Carolina, recalling his time stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and the people who helped him as a young Marine away from home.
He recounted nearly buying a vehicle with a 21.9% interest rate before a fellow Marine steered him toward a credit union. He also praised Eastern North Carolina’s vinegar-based barbecue and shared a story about burning his finger while experimenting with fireworks with his children.
Those lighter moments led into a broader argument that Washington should put the interests of American citizens first.
“This movement is about restoring the sovereignty of the American people,” Vance said.
He described that principle as a government accountable to its citizens and tied it to protecting jobs, securing the border, reducing household costs and supporting law enforcement.
Vance credited President Donald Trump’s administration with progress on taxes, immigration enforcement and public safety. He argued that electing Republicans to Congress would help continue that agenda.
The vice president praised Whatley’s work leading the Republican National Committee during the 2024 election and urged voters to support him against Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in North Carolina’s Senate race.
Vance criticized Cooper’s record on criminal justice and immigration enforcement, arguing that voters should evaluate his decisions as governor rather than his campaign advertising.
“Judge Roy Cooper by what he did when he actually had power over your lives,” Vance said.
He also backed Buckhout, a retired Army colonel challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, and criticized Davis’ voting record on Republican priorities.
Vance’s remarks repeatedly returned to his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and the opportunities he said he wants available to other families.
“I just want my government to fight for my jobs, to fight for my safety,” he said. “And because I want that for me, I want it for you, too.”
Other Republican speakers reinforced the rally’s focus on turnout while outlining their reasons for supporting the party’s candidates.
Whatley said his priorities would remain rooted in North Carolina.
“I am going to side every single time with the people of North Carolina,” Whatley said. “I am going to fight for this great state.”
Buckhout connected her military experience to the responsibilities she would bring to Congress, describing leadership as showing up and accepting responsibility.
“You show up, you do the job, and you take responsibility for the outcome,” Buckhout said.
U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy spoke about economic opportunity, health care costs and constitutional freedoms. He also reflected on his work as a physician in Eastern North Carolina and the struggles he has seen families face.
“We also must have a secure nation, but remember, compassion and security are not mutually exclusive,” Murphy said.
North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley encouraged supporters to volunteer and help get other voters to the polls.
“I’m going to be out there with you every step of the way,” Farley said. “I don’t ask people to do anything I’m not willing to do myself.”
State Sen. Bob Brinson urged attendees to turn their enthusiasm into votes and recruit others to participate.
“We need to raise an army of voters in every precinct, in every county, and get them to the polls,” Brinson said.
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, encouraged attendees to contact friends, relatives and church members and offer help getting to voting locations.
“If you haven’t voted yet, we need you to vote today,” Hudson said.
Vance closed by asking supporters to carry that message beyond the rally and help elect Republican candidates.
“Are you ready to fight for the people who fight for you?” he asked.
Early in-person voting in North Carolina continues through 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
