JD Vance says in RNC speech that his mother has been sober for 10 years

JD Vance’s mother was in the audience on Wednesday evening when he officially accepted his nomination as Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate.

Vance gave a speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday. The 39-year-old senator from Ohio spoke about his childhood in Middletown, Ohio, and his roots in the Appalachian Mountains – two of the backgrounds to his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.”

“My fellow Americans… this moment is not about me, it’s about all of us and who we’re fighting for,” Vance said. “It’s about single mothers like mine who have struggled with money and addiction but never gave up.”

Vance told his mother he loved her before cameras panned to her in the audience and the crowd erupted in chants of “JD’s MOM!”

More: RNC Live Updates: JD Vance officially accepts vice presidential nomination at Republican convention

Who is JD Vance’s mother?

Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, grew up in Middletown, where her Kentucky-born parents settled in Ohio. She has a brother and a sister and had two children, Vance and his sister Lindsay.

Vance said his mother has been sober for 10 years

Vance wrote about his mother’s years-long battle with addiction in “Hillbilly Elegy.” During his speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Vance said his mother has been sober for 10 years.

According to Aikins’ Facebook profile, she currently works in drug treatment in southwest Ohio.

Vance praised her sobriety at the convention.

“And you know, Mom, I thought January 2025 would officially be 10 years, and if President Trump is OK with it, let’s have the celebration at the White House,” Vance said.

When and where will the Republican National Convention take place?

The Republican National Convention will take place over four days from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, will be the main venue for the RNC.

There will also be events at the nearby Panther Arena and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Baird Center.

USA TODAY will broadcast the RNC from start to finish. Updates from the RNC will be available at gopconvention2024.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is JD Vance’s mother? What to know after the RNC speech