J.D. Vance has the unwavering support of his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, as he steps into the role of Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
The Ohio senator was accompanied by his wife at the Republican National Convention on July 15, where they were seen holding hands while greeting onlookers. This event marked Vance’s first public appearance with his running mate. The couple, who first met at Yale Law School in the 2010s, organized a discussion group on “social decline in white America,” as reported by The New York Times.
Vance and Usha quickly bonded, with Vance describing her as his “Yale spirit guide.” They married in 2014, a year after graduating from Yale Law School. Since then, they have welcomed three children together. Although they keep their family life private, the couple frequently steps out for political events. Usha was notably by Vance’s side during his 2022 campaign for Ohio’s Senate seat, where he won the Republican nomination after being endorsed by former President Donald Trump and defeated Democratic nominee Tim Ryan in the general election.
Beyond her support for Vance’s political career, Usha has an impressive background herself. Here’s everything to know about J. D. Vance’s wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance.
They Met in Law School
The couple met in 2013 at Yale Law School, where they collaborated on a discussion group focused on “social decline in white America.” According to The New York Times, the group’s reading materials included scholarly papers like “Urban Appalachian Children: An ‘Invisible’ Minority in City Schools.” The syllabus reportedly influenced Vance’s 2016 memoir, *Hillbilly Elegy*, which explores his experiences growing up in the postindustrial Rust Belt.
While at Yale, Usha held prominent positions such as executive development editor of the Yale Law Journal and managing editor of the Yale Journal of Law & Technology. She was also involved in the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic, the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, and the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project. Usha earned her BA in history from Yale University and her MPhil in early modern history from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.
They Got Married in 2014
In 2014, a year after graduating from Yale Law School, Vance and Usha married.
They Have Three Kids
The couple has three children: two sons, Ewan and Vivek, and a daughter named Mirabel. Vance announced Mirabel’s birth on Instagram on December 21, 2021, writing, “We were blessed with an early Christmas present this year. Everyone please meet Mirabel Rose Vance, our first girl. Mama and baby both doing great, and we’re feeling very grateful this Christmas season.” Vance generally keeps his children out of the spotlight but occasionally references them, such as when he read Dr. Seuss’ *Oh, the Places You’ll Go!* on the Senate floor in honor of his son Vivek’s 4th birthday in February 2024. He said, “I’m sorry that they could I can’t be with you for your birthday dinner. But I want you to know that Daddy loves you very much. And I’m going to read this into the record because maybe you can watch it at home.”
She Grew Up in San Diego
Born in California, Usha is “the child of Indian immigrants” and grew up in the suburbs of San Diego, as reported by The New York Times. She attended Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Peñasquitos.
She Worked as a Litigator
Usha’s career as a litigator included positions in the San Francisco and Washington, D.C. offices of Munger, Tolles & Olson from 2015 to 2017. She then clerked for Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as for Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Judge Amul Thapar, until 2018. Usha returned to Munger, Tolles & Olson in January 2019, focusing on complex civil litigation and appeals in various sectors such as higher education, local government, entertainment, and technology.
Following Vance’s vice-presidential nomination, Usha’s profile was removed from the firm’s website. The firm stated, “Usha has been an excellent lawyer and colleague, and we thank her for her years of work and wish her the best in her future career.” Usha also issued a statement, saying, “In light of today’s news, I have resigned from my position at Munger, Tolles & Olson to focus on caring for our family. I am forever grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at Munger and for the excellent colleagues and friends I’ve worked with over the years.”
J.D. Credits Her for Guiding Him in His Early Career
Vance often praises Usha for her support. In a November 2022 interview with The New York Times, he referred to her as his “Yale spirit guide” and noted, “She instinctively understood the questions I didn’t even know to ask and she always encouraged me to seek opportunities that I didn’t know existed.” In a 2020 interview with Megyn Kelly on her podcast, *The Megyn Kelly Show*, Vance said, “I’m one of those guys who really benefits from having sort of a powerful female voice over his left shoulder saying, ‘Don’t do that, do that.’”
She Was by His Side at the Republican National Convention
Shortly after Vance was announced as Trump’s vice-presidential pick, he and Usha appeared at the Republican National Convention on July 15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They were seen holding hands and smiling at each other, with Vance soaking in the applause from the crowd.
