Usha Vance, the wife of Sen. JD Vance, gained national prominence Monday as she accompanied her husband at the Republican National Convention, where Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate.
The 38-year-old Usha joined her husband, 39, as he accepted the vice-presidential nomination through an acclimation vote by delegates. The couple was seen jubilantly interacting with convention attendees, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
Professional accomplishments
A graduate of Yale Law School, Usha Vance is an accomplished civil litigation attorney who has clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his tenure on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. Until recently, she worked at the law firm Munger Tolles & Olson, where she handled cases across various sectors, including higher education, local government, entertainment, and technology.
Personal and cultural background
Raised in the San Diego area, Usha Vance, née Chilukuri, is the daughter of Indian immigrants. If JD Vance wins the vice presidency, she would become the first Hindu spouse of a president or vice president, succeeding second gentleman Doug Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president.
Marriage and family life
Married in 2014 in Kentucky, the Vances were also blessed by a Hindu priest in a separate ceremony. The couple has three children. Despite her initial reluctance for public exposure, as expressed in a “Fox & Friends” interview, Usha supports her husband’s political ambitions. “I believe in J.D. and I really love him, and so we’ll just sort of see what happens with our life — where we’re open,” she said.
Interfaith marriage
Usha Vance, a Hindu, has supported her husband’s Christian faith journey, including his baptism in 2018. “I knew that J.D. was searching for something. This just felt right for him,” she remarked. On managing their interfaith marriage, she stated, “There are a lot of things that we just agree on, I think, especially when it comes to family life, how to raise our kids. And so I think the answer really is, we just talk a lot.”
Prepared for political challenges
JD Vance humorously acknowledged that debating his litigator wife has prepared him for facing Vice President Kamala Harris in political debates. “I have to debate this litigator all the time,” he joked.
With her impressive professional background and supportive partnership, Usha Vance is set to play a significant role in the upcoming election season.
