RADFORD, Va. – Update:
Ticket registration for J.D. Vance’s rally in Radford is now available here.
10 News has learned that you can register for two tickets per mobile phone number, and all tickets will be given on a first come first serve basis.
Doors will open for the event at 3:00 p.m. Monday, July 22, we’re told.
Vance is scheduled to deliver his remarks three hours later at 6 p.m.
Original Story:
Radford University announced that Donald Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance will be holding a rally on its campus.
The rally will be held on Monday, July 22, and is scheduled to run from about 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The Trump campaign is said to have rented the Dedmon Center for the event.
“The university is not an official host or sponsor of the vice-presidential rally and does not otherwise endorse any political candidates, their positions or opinions,” said Radford’s Vice President of Student Affairs Susan Trageser.
The rally is expected to bring traffic to the Radford area.
News of the rally spread fast amongst Republicans across the Commonwealth and in Radford.
Chip Craig, Chairman of the Radford City Republicans, expects the city to be flooded with Trump and Vance supporters.
“We found he was coming here and this was going to be one of his first campaign stops after the convention, republicans in the city as the word has gotten out and today it really got out…has just been through the roof,” Craig said. “My phone is blowing up with texts and calls and emails going Tickets tickets tickets, how do i get tickets? I got to get in and see him. I love him. I love Trump. The excitement level is as high as I’ve ever seen it.”
Radford falls in the 9th congressional district of Virginia. Rep. Morgan Griffith, who represents the district, heard about the potential for a rally on Wednesday. He believes there is no better place to start the campaign trail for Vance than in Southwest Virginia.
“I can’t tell you how many more times the ticket will be here but I think they’re coming to Southwest Virginia because they know how important Southwest Virginia is...winning Virginia and winning the presidency,” Griffith said.
Craig had very similar ideas to Griffith about the importance of getting to Southwest Virginia.
They start here in this part of the state and the ninth district because we are the reddest district and the state and the way to win an election. Any election is to get out your base get them to the polls and get them to vote so instead of trying to convert people in the 10th district say let’s come down here in the ninth and let’s turn out Republicans get them to the polls and get them voting and JD Vance is just a guy who can fire people up in this area about it,” Craig said.
The rally will also be one of the first political rallies following the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Secret Service members were on Radford’s campus Thursday canvassing the area.
“That does make me feel good. They’ve got to make sure they check everything out. This is a great location! If people haven’t been here before, it’s a great location. It’s also a pretty secure location,” Griffith said.