Former United States President and Republican Presidential pick Donald Trump selected JD Vance as his running mate for the upcoming US presidential elections. Vance, 39, is the author of the bestselling memoir on what ails the White working class, Hillbilly Elegy, and has an Indian connection.
Vance’s wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance is an Indian-American who traces her origins to Andhra Pradesh. She brings a wealth of credentials and a strong connection to Indian values and culture. A litigator at a prominent national firm, Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants and boasts an impressive academic background.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge, as reported by the New York Times. Born Usha Chilukuri, she has pursued a distinguished legal career, including clerkships with Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh prior to Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Raised in a San Diego suburb with a focus on education and diligence, Usha’s achievements include serving as Managing Editor of the Yale Journal of Law & Technology and Executive Development Editor of The Yale Law Journal, as noted in her biography from Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm.
Following extensive extracurricular involvement at Yale, she continued her studies as a Gates fellow at Cambridge, engaging with progressive and liberal groups. Usha was a registered Democrat in 2014.
Usha and JD Vance met at Yale Law School and married in Kentucky in 2014, with a Hindu priest officiating a separate ceremony, according to the New York Times. The couple shares three children.
Usha Vance has played a pivotal yet understated role in her husband’s trajectory, aiding him in articulating themes of social decline in rural white America that shaped his bestselling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” later adapted into a 2020 film directed by Ron Howard. She has occasionally accompanied Vance during his campaign for the Ohio Senate seat.
Former US President Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his Vice Presidential running mate, confirming the selection via social media. Speaking to ANI, real estate investment advisor and entrepreneur AI Mason praised Usha Vance’s legal acumen and her potential to strengthen US-India ties.
In a recent interview with Fox & Friends, Usha Vance discussed their interfaith marriage and JD’s candidacy speculations, emphasizing his dedication and innovative thinking. “Everything he says and does is built on a foundation of deep consideration. He’s always striving to improve,” she remarked.
Reflecting on her support for JD Vance in the upcoming elections, Usha cited her upbringing in a religious Hindu household, highlighting the values instilled by her parents. The interview, conducted three weeks before JD Vance’s selection as Trump’s running mate, offered insights into their personal and professional journey.
JD Vance, originally James David Bowman from Middletown, Ohio, was raised by his grandparents amidst familial challenges. The Trump campaign emphasizes his call for unity amid adversity as he prepares for a 2024 election rematch with President Biden.