'I love you, mom': JD Vance says his mom is 10 years sober in RNC speech
J.D. Vance's mother was in the audience Wednesday night when he formally accepted his nomination to be Donald Trump's running mate.
Vance spoke at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday in Milwaukee. The 39-year-old Ohio senator talked about his upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, and Appalachian roots – two backdrops of 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 moms like mine, who struggled with money and addiction but never gave up."
Vance told his mom he loved her, before cameras panned to her in the audience and the crowd broke out into chanting "J.D's MOM!"
More: RNC live updates: JD Vance officially accepts VP nomination at Republican convention
Who is JD Vance's mom?
Vance's mom, Beverly Aikins, was raised in Middletown, where her Kentucky-born parents settled in Ohio. She has one brother and one sister, and had two children, Vance and his sister, Lindsay.
Vance said his mom has been sober for 10 years
Vance wrote about his mom's multi-year struggle with addiction in "Hillbilly Elegy." During his speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Vance said his mom has been sober for 10 years.
According to Aikins' Facebook profile, she currently works in substance abuse recovery in Southwest Ohio.
Vance praised her sobriety at the convention.
"And you know mom, I was thinking, it will be 10 years officially in January of 2025 and if President Trump 's okay with it, lets have the celebration in the White House," Vance said.
When and where is the Republican National Convention?
The Republicans' convention will take place over four days, from July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, will be the main venue for the RNC.
There also will be events at the nearby University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center.
USA TODAY is streaming 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 mom? What to know after RNC speech shoutout
