Usha Vance, the wife of Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance, has emerged as a quiet yet influential figure in the 2024 presidential campaign. Born to Telugu-speaking Indian immigrants in San Diego, California, Usha’s journey from a high-powered attorney to a supportive political spouse parallels former First Lady Melania Trump’s subdued presence during Donald Trump’s presidential runs.
Usha Chilukuri Vance’s background is marked by academic excellence and professional achievements. She graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a degree in history and later earned a Master of Philosophy from Clare College, Cambridge. Her educational path eventually led her to Yale Law School, where she met her future husband, J.D. Vance.
“In a place that always seemed a little foreign, Usha’s presence made me feel at home,” Vance wrote in his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” describing how he “fell hard” for Usha when they were law school classmates.
The couple married in 2014 in an interfaith ceremony honoring their backgrounds. Usha, 38, is a practicing Hindu, while J.D. converted to Catholicism in 2019. They now have three children together: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel.
After graduating from Yale Law School in 2013, Usha’s career took off rapidly. She clerked for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and later for Chief Justice John Roberts on the Supreme Court. These prestigious positions set the stage for her successful career as a trial lawyer at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where she handled complex civil litigation and appeals.
Despite her impressive legal career, Usha has chosen to step back from the public spotlight as her husband’s political career has gained momentum. In 2024, she left her law firm shortly after Vance was chosen as Donald Trump’s running mate.
“I’m not raring to change anything about our lives right now,” Usha said in an interview, highlighting her preference for staying behind the scenes during the campaign.
When media outlets inquired about Usha’s campaign involvement, Taylor Van Kirk, Senator Vance’s spokesperson, informed them that she is currently accompanying her husband on the campaign trail and has participated in numerous events alongside him.
Despite this, the attorney’s level of engagement differs from that of Gwen, the spouse of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. While Gwen has garnered attention at fundraisers, vocally criticizing the Republican ticket with her background as an educator, Usha’s appearances have been more subdued, primarily involving cordial interactions and greetings.
Following the Republican National Convention, Usha has attended at least seven events supporting her husband, including gatherings at the Milwaukee Police Association and in Reno. Interestingly, the potential future second lady recently visited Gordon’s Butcher & Market in Erie, Pennsylvania, having previously met with voters at a diner in St. Cloud, Minnesota in July.
Although she maintains a subdued public presence, her impact on her husband’s political career is apparent. Vance has acknowledged his wife’s role in helping him regulate his temperament and offering crucial advice. In his autobiography, he described himself as prone to delayed outbursts, noting that while he has improved his self-control, Usha has also developed the ability to manage his behavior effectively.
While her political affiliation has evolved, she is now firmly in the Republican camp. Voter records show that as of 2022, she was a registered Republican in Ohio and voted in the Republican primary that year – the same election in which her husband was running for the Senate nomination.
Outside of her legal career and political support role, Usha has been involved in community service. She served on the Cincinnati Symphony Board of Directors from September 2020 to July 2023, demonstrating her commitment to cultural enrichment in her adopted home state of Ohio.