Inside JD Vance’s Lexington fundraiser: $2 million raised, the economy & hits on Harris
About 100 people convened in downtown Lexington to hear from and raise money for Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance Monday evening.
Vance, a freshman senator from Ohio who was recently selected by former president Donald Trump to be his running mate on the GOP ticket, announced mid-speech that they had raised $2 million at the event, according to three people in attendance.
The fundraiser was hosted by GOP power couple Kelly and Joe Craft at downtown Lexington’s Central Bank Center.
Co-hosts included Sixth Congressional District Congressman Andy Barr and his wife, Davis; Republican National Committee Treasurer K.C. Crosbie and her husband Scott; banker Terry Forcht and his wife Marion; Kathryn and Terry Green of Jackpot Farm; top Frankfort lobbyist John McCarthy and his wife Cindy; and Fifth Congressional District Congressman Hal Rogers.
The main theme of Vance’s speech was the economy, those who attended the event said. The rising costs of childcare, food and more during the last four years were all part of his remarks aimed at criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic nominee for president.
The Herald-Leader is not naming event attendees as they were not given authorization to speak publicly about the private event.
Vance was critical of Harris’ plans for “day one” of her presidency in his speech, remarking that she’s already been in office as vice president for “1,300 days.”
The Lexington event was initially scheduled for Pikeville in Eastern Kentucky. Those in attendance said that it was mentioned during the event that the location was changed due to secret service logistical issues.
Joe Craft, a billionaire coal magnate and philanthropist originally from Eastern Kentucky, introduced Vance. He was the only other person to speak at the event, and his remarks lasted about 5 minutes, the people in attendance said.
Vance spoke for about 20 minutes with no notes or teleprompter, they said.
Vance’s mother, who played a central role in his bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” was in attendance.
The vice presidential nominee made no mention of Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, according to the people who attended the fundraiser. Vance has been the focus of negative comments by Beshear, particularly when the governor was one of a handful of politicians being vetted to run alongside Harris.
Tickets to attend started at $2,500 per person. The “host committee” level required a couple to give or raise $100,000; a photo opportunity with Vance was $15,000.
All the money raised at the event went toward Republican-supporting causes or organizations.
According to copies of the invitation, the first $3,300 went to the Trump for President general election account; the next $3,300 goes to the Trump for President recount account; the following $5,000 to Save America, a group that’s spent tens of millions footing Trump’s various legal and investigation-related bills; the next $289,100 to the Republican National Committee; and the remainder to various state Republican parties.
