JD Vance was born in Middletown, Ohio, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 as a military journalist. He earned degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School and rose to national attention with his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy.
A Republican, Vance represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 2023 to 2025 and was selected as Trump's running mate in 2024. He resigned his Senate seat before inauguration and serves as the 50th vice president of the United States, also acting as finance chair of the Republican National Committee.
Burgess Owens (born Aug 2, 1951) is U.S. representative for Utah's 4th district since 2021; former NFL safety. He announced he won't run again in 2026.
Muriel Bowser (born Aug 2, 1972) has been mayor of Washington, D.C., since 2015; previously served on the D.C. Council (2007–2015). She declined to run in 2026.
John W. Snow (born Aug 2, 1939) is an economist and former CSX CEO who served as the 73rd U.S. Treasury secretary under President George W. Bush (2003–2006).
Born August 2, 1943. Died July 14, 2013 at age 69.
Herbert M. Allison Jr. (born Aug 2, 1943; died July 14, 2013) oversaw the Troubled Asset Relief Program as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability, 2009–2010.
Born August 2, 1924. Died December 1, 1987 at age 63.
James Baldwin was born on this day in 1924. He was an acclaimed writer and civil‑rights activist, author of Go Tell It on the Mountain and influential essays.
Born August 2, 1902. Died October 25, 1997 at age 95.
Mina Rees was born on this day in 1902. A pioneering American mathematician, she led the Office of Naval Research mathematics department and was AAAS president (1971).
