WAITE PARK, Minn. — When Sen. JD Vance of Ohio arrived to the Park Diner in Waite Park, Minn., on Sunday morning — a remarkably traditional political stop after a week on the trail that has been anything but — he told the dozens gathered outside that he thought he and former President Donald Trump held a “great” and successful rally the day before in nearby St. Cloud.

Many of them hooted in agreement, because they had been there. The diner was stocked with supporters invited by the Trump campaign.

Supporters wait for Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) before he visits Park Diner in Waite Park, Minn., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. When Senator JD Vance of Ohio arrived to the Park Diner in Waite Park, Minn., on Sunday morning – a remarkably traditional political stop after a week on the trail that has been anything but – he told the dozens gathered outside that he thought he and former President Donald J. Trump held a “great” and successful rally the day before in nearby St. Cloud. (Jenn Ackerman/The New York Times)

As Trump looks to broaden the electoral map by putting in play states such as Minnesota, which has not voted for a Republican president since 1972, he will likely need to win back voters in closely contested areas who helped him in 2016 then swung the other way four years ago. But Saturday’s rally and Sunday’s diner stop by Vance, a Yale-educated lawyer, were both in Stearns County — an area about an hour’s drive from Minneapolis and a place Trump won by more than 20 percentage points in 2016 and 2020.

Still, Vance insisted to the supporters greeting him that he and Trump were “going to turn Minnesota red,” telling reporters that Trump’s message would stand in sharp enough contrast to that of Vice President Kamala Harris, who he called a “San Francisco liberal,” that it would drive voters to the polls.

“We know that we have the votes in Minnesota to win the race,” Vance insisted. “We’ve just got to make sure that some of those low-propensity voters actually get out there and get to the polls and vote for us.”

Vance, who arrived at the diner with his wife, Usha, and two of his children, spent roughly 20 minutes inside, where staff members greeted his son, Vivek, and his daughter, Mirabel, with chocolate milk.

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) talks to media outside of Park Diner in Waite Park, Minn., on Sunday, July 28, 2024.When Senator JD Vance of Ohio arrived to the Park Diner in Waite Park, Minn., on Sunday morning – a remarkably traditional political stop after a week on the trail that has been anything but – he told the dozens gathered outside that he thought he and former President Donald J. Trump held a “great” and successful rally the day before in nearby St. Cloud. (Jenn Ackerman/The New York Times)

After ordering six Chubby Checker cinnamon rolls and six Big Bopper caramel rolls, he dropped two $100 bills as a tip, then wrote “No Tax on Tips” on the receipt, a reference to Trump’s relatively recent campaign pledge to make tipped income tax-free.

Vance’s reception among a crowd that included many supporters invited by the campaign was considerably smoother than the criticism that has greeted his debut on the trail, though when he arrived, one man shouted, “Where’s Trump?”

But, Vance insisted, he was having fun. “I’m doing great, man. I’m having a good time. My family’s here, they’re hopped up on chocolate milk. It’s going to be a wild plane ride.”

Related Articles

Wisconsin Republicans ask voters to take away governor’s power to spend federal money

Trump and Vance team up to campaign in Minnesota, a state that hasn’t backed the GOP in 52 years

The case for, and against, picking Gov. Tim Walz to be Kamala Harris’ VP

Minnesota DFL sees surge of volunteers and cash after Kamala Harris announces presidential run

First all-women St. Paul City Council inspires crochet project, museum exhibit