On Friday, Vice President JD Vance made his way to North Carolina, spotlighting economic issues during his visit. The event took place at the Power House in Rocky Mount, where Vance aimed to address key topics including the economy, public safety, and election integrity, according to a spokesperson.

Vance’s focus on these issues aligns closely with the ongoing priorities of President Trump’s administration, which has emphasized economic growth as a cornerstone since its inception. As the nation approaches the midterm elections, these topics remain at the forefront of political discourse.

Recent polling data from ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos indicates that public perception of the economy under Trump is mixed. The poll shows that 29% of respondents believe the economy has strengthened under Trump’s leadership, while 48% feel it has deteriorated. Despite showing some improvement from previous years, economic anxieties still pose significant hurdles for the administration.

Mary Helen Warren, president of the Tar River Republican Women, highlighted the universal concern about the economy. “The economy is weighing on everyone’s mind,” she noted, emphasizing that economic worries cut across party lines. “Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, or unaffiliated, everyone who’s paying bills is concerned. Hopefully, Vice President Vance will address these issues.”

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as more details become available.

“The economy is weighing on everyone’s mind,” said Mary Helen Warren, president of the Tar River Republican Women. “Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, unaffiliated, doesn’t matter. If you’re paying bills, you’re worried about the economy. So hopefully he will talk about that as well.”

Roughly 150 seats were set up for the event, with most filled nearly two hours before the vice president’s scheduled appearance. Among those in attendance were State Auditor Dave Boliek and Laurie Buckhout, the Republican nominee in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, who recently received Trump’s endorsement.

The vice president spoke around 2 p.m.

This was Vance’s second trip to North Carolina since becoming vice president. He spoke in Concord in September about public safety in the wake of the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.

ABC11’s Michael Perchick contributed to this report.