JD Vance has centered his campaign as the Republican vice-presidential nominee around appeals to middle-class and working-class voters, drawing on his Appalachian roots as highlighted in his acclaimed memoir. In various rallies and interviews, he positions the Republican ticket as defenders of common people, particularly targeting first-time home buyers and autoworkers, although he has been criticized for inaccurately portraying the policies of Vice President Kamala Harris regarding housing, trade, and manufacturing.

In a recent interview, Vance asserted that "Kamala Harris let in 20 million illegal aliens to compete with Americans for scarce homes." However, this claim has been labeled as an exaggeration by economists and housing experts, who contend that while both legal and illegal migration plays a role in population growth, it is not the primary factor affecting the current housing affordability crisis. Instead, the main issue is the lack of housing supply relative to demand.