When it comes to Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s name, it’s complicated. The senator from Ohio introduced himself to the world in 2016, when he published his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” under the name J.D. Vance, with periods between the initials for James David. Vance explained it wasn't the first iteration of his name. Over the course of his 39 years, Vance’s first, middle and last names have all been altered. As Vance is being introduced to voters across the country as Donald Trump’s running mate, his name has been the source of questions, including why he no longer uses periods in JD.
