JD Vance jokes he is 'raising a Democrat' after daughter picks brothers' toys for charity

ROME, NEW YORK: Vice President JD Vance found an unexpected political punchline in a family conversation about Christmas donations. During his final midterm campaign stop on Monday, November 2, Vance shared how his four-year-old daughter picked two of her brothers' toys for the family's holiday toy drive, prompting him to joke that he was "raising a Democrat."

The remark came just days after Halloween, as Vance spoke about his family's plans for Christmas and their intention to donate toys to Toys for Tots.

JD Vance jokes daughter is a Democrat over brothers' toys

Vance shared the story while addressing supporters in Rome, New York, during his final campaign stop of the midterm election season.

He explained that he had spoken to his four-year-old daughter after Halloween about getting ready for the family's Christmas toy drive. He wanted her to choose a few toys that she would like to donate to children through Toys for Tots.

However, her choices were not quite what he had expected.

"After Halloween, yesterday, actually, I was talking to my daughter who is 4 years old and I said, 'Honey, we will start getting ready for our toy drive. We try to give some toys to Toys for Tots. We get ready for Christmas and I want you to identify a couple of toys you would like to donate here,'" Vance recalled.

He then explained that his daughter returned with two toys belonging to her brothers.

"So she brings me two of her brothers' toys," he said.

The unexpected choice prompted Vance to make a political comparison, telling the crowd, "And I realize that despite my best efforts, ladies and gentlemen, I have apparently raised a Democrat."

JD Vance turns Christmas toy drive story into political jab

Vance continued the joke by suggesting that his daughter was effectively taking her brothers' belongings and giving them away to someone else.

"Stealing — stealing her brother's toys to give to somebody else," he said.

He then connected the family anecdote to the political contest, adding, "And that's what we have to do in just one day is beat the Democrats and win for America."

The comment brought together a lighthearted story about his young daughter and his campaign message against Democrats.

Toys for Tots donation rules do not accept used toys

There was also a detail about the family's donation plans that made the anecdote particularly interesting. Even if Vance's daughter had successfully picked her brothers' old toys for the drive, they would not have qualified for Toys for Tots donations.

According to the charity's website, Toys for Tots accepts only new and unwrapped items.