Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance will speak at the International Association of Firefighters Convention in Boston on Thursday, according to a Vance spokesperson.
The Ohio senator will speak to the firefighters union, one of the largest in the country, in the afternoon — a little more than 24 hours after his counterpart, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, spoke at the same convention. Vance’s planned appearance was also reported by WBUR.
Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.), a former paramedic firefighter and the only firefighter elected to Congress, will introduce Vance at Thursday’s rally, said a person familiar with the plans.
The Minnesota governor made a working-class appeal to the group: “We know exactly who built this country. It’s people like the folks in this room: firefighters, police officers, construction trades, teachers and nurses and veterans,” he said during his remarks on Wednesday.
Both parties are vying for the endorsement of the group, underscoring the scramble to earn union support in the 2024 election. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention last month, while United Auto Workers Association President Shawn Fain spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week.
