In the year JD Vance became a US Senate candidate, he earned more than two-and-a-half times more in book royalties than a US senator makes in a year, according to a new congressional financial disclosure.
Vance reported earning $475,380 in 2021 off of royalties from HarperCollins, which published his best-selling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy" six years ago.
Vance's book royalty income actually increased 2021, the year he announced his political candidacy. In 2020, he made $347,752 in royalties, which doesn't include his earnings from a deal with Netflix.
Vance's financial disclosure report also shows that he made $327,083 from his salaried position with Narya Capital Management in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The venture capitalist's financial disclosures came under increased scrutiny after Vance blew past a federal deadline in filing a prior disclosure in late 2021. Additionally, the Federal Election Commission questioned Vance's campaign for initially failing to provide details on around $700,000 in loans that he personally made to his campaign.
Vance is set to face off against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for an open Senate seat in November.
Thanks to a loophole in federal law, Vance — if he wins — will still be allowed to rake in the royalties from his bestselling book in addition to his congressional salary of $174,000.
According to expert prognosticators at Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, the Senate race between Vance and Ryan is rated as "likely R" come November.
In a related matter, embattled Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican of Florida, on Friday reported earning more than $35,000 in book royalties from his 2020 book "Firebrand."
