Vice President JD Vance made a stop in Ohio on Tuesday to cast his ballot in the state’s primary elections, contrasting with President Donald Trump’s decision to vote by mail for Florida’s special election in March.
Vance, joined by his 6-year-old son, Vivek, stopped at a polling place in Cincinnati on his way to visit a manufacturing facility in Des Moines, Iowa.
While Vance opted to visit his home state to participate in the primary election, Trump voted by mail in Florida’s special election held in March. The president justified his decision to cast a mail-in ballot by saying he had business to take care of in Washington.
Trump faced criticism for his choice, as he has previously claimed that mail-in ballots are an avenue for voter fraud. While he has pushed for the SAVE America Act, which would prohibit voting by mail, Trump said there are exceptions for those who are away from home during elections.
The vice president jokingly declined to tell reporters who he voted for in Ohio’s closed primaries.
“I have to hide it from the reporters,” Vance teased while going to cast his ballot. “I don’t want them to know who I voted for.”
Shortly after videos of his voting venture were shared on social media, Vance posted on X that he cast his votes for Vivek Ramaswamy for governor, Jay Edwards for state treasurer, and Eric Conroy for Ohio’s 1st Congressional District.
Vance’s son voted in a pretend election between the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy.
“He voted for the Easter bunny over the tooth fairy, which is a risky choice because he’s got a loose tooth,” Vance said of his son’s choice. “He’s a man of principle.”
Watch Vance cast his ballot in Cincinnati:
.@VP stops at his Cincinnati polling place to vote in today’s Ohio primary election.
His son joined him to cast a kid’s ballot: “He voted for the Easter Bunny over the Tooth Fairy.”
pic.twitter.com/nGGZ8PmpjU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 5, 2026
Several statewide offices in Ohio have gained national attention, including an election to replace the seat Vance left vacant when he left office to serve as Trump’s No. 2.
Vance has backed Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in the midterm elections to fill the seat he previously held. Husted, who had served as lieutenant governor, was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) in January 2025.
Ohio’s gubernatorial race has also gained attention, particularly for the large amount of funds pouring into the race.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT OHIO PRIMARIES AS RAMASWAMY SEEKS GOVERNOR NOMINATION
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, is widely viewed as the GOP front-runner. He has put millions of his own money into his campaign, dwarfing that raised by his Democratic competitor, former Ohio health director Amy Acton.
Both Vance and Trump have endorsed Ramaswamy, who has been guided by Vance’s former top advisers in his gubernatorial bid.