Photo Gallery: Vice President JD Vance visits the Rio Grande Valley
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Vice President JD Vance arrived at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport Wednesday morning ahead of a groundbreaking and campaign rally.
Vance was the headliner at a midday ceremonial groundbreaking for Saronic Technologies’ Port Alpha “shipyard of the future” at the Port of Brownsville, which also featured remarks by Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez Jr., State Sen. Adam Hinojosa, U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, Saronic co-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. and U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.
The vice president said Port Alpha to him represents “an American dream built by American workers, created by American companies, and ensuring that the next generation of America’s future is in our hands, in the hands of our fellow citizens.”
Then, Vance followed the groundbreaking with a rally at the Harlingen Convention Center to whip up voter enthusiasm for District 34 congressional candidate Eric Flores and other Republicans on the November ballot.
Vice President JD Vance walks off of Air Force Two on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport prior to attending a groundbreaking for Saronic’s Port Alpha shipbuilding facility at the Port of Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Republican congressional candidate Eric Flores on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, after exiting Air Force Two at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a groundbreaking for Saronic’s Port Alpha shipbuilding facility on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Port of Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance speaks at the podium following a groundbreaking for Saronic’s Port Alpha shipbuilding facility on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Port of Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance speaks at the podium following a groundbreaking for Saronic’s Port Alpha shipbuilding facility on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Port of Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance gives a thumbs up as he prepares to deliver remarks following a groundbreaking for Saronic’s Port Alpha shipbuilding facility on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Port of Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts /The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance speaks at a campaign rally for Republican congressional candidate Eric Flores on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Harlingen Convention Center in Harlingen. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance speaks at a campaign rally for Republican congressional candidate Eric Flores on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Harlingen Convention Center in Harlingen. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance speaks at a campaign rally for Republican congressional candidate Eric Flores on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Harlingen Convention Center in Harlingen. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)Vice President JD Vance speaks at a campaign rally for Republican congressional candidate Eric Flores on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, at the Harlingen Convention Center in Harlingen. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)
