With the US midterm elections entering their final stretch, JD Vance placed particular emphasis on the importance of the electoral contest, describing it as “the most important midterm election of my life.”

Speaking to supporters in Ohio, the state where he grew up, the US vice president stressed that he was wrapping up his campaign “right where it all began.”

“This state made me the person I am today. This is where I learned to work hard; this is where I learned to love my country,” Vance said, stressing that the Republican Party was “the only choice” for lower taxes, “common sense” and “patriotic American values.”

He also underlined that the United States is a country where even children from difficult circumstances can dream big and turn those dreams into reality.

Vance then turned to Republican candidate for Ohio governor Vivek Ramaswamy, effectively urging voters to support him in order, as he put it, to prevent “an unstable maniac like Amy Acton”—the Democratic candidate—from once again gaining power that would affect their lives.

The US vice president also struck a lighter note during his speech, mentioning his six-year-old son, who is also named Vivek. As he explained, the little boy sees campaign signs bearing the slogan “Vivek for Ohio” and tells him: “People know I like Ohio.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, my Vivek is definitely pro-Ohio. And this Vivek is also pro-Ohio,” Vance said, pointing to Ramaswamy.

Concluding his speech, he urged those gathered to mobilise ahead of election day, asking them to bring everyone they knew to the polls and make sure they got to the polling stations.