Usha Chilukuri Vance, the Indian-American wife of Senator J.D. Vance, has recently praised her husband as an ideal candidate for vice president, introducing him with a glimpse into their life and his acceptance of her vegetarian diet, along with his knack for cooking Indian food.
Usha, 38, a Yale law graduate and trial lawyer, has mostly kept a low profile. She acknowledged their diverse backgrounds—J.D. being a white man from the Rust Belt and her being the daughter of Indian immigrants. Usha emphasized that their relationship is a testament to America’s unique opportunities. “That J.D. and I could meet, fall in love, and marry is a testament to this great country,” she said while introducing her 39-year-old husband during the Republican National Convention.
She confidently stated that J.D. would be an excellent Vice President, just minutes before he accepted the Republican Party’s nomination for vice president in the upcoming November 5 election. Usha highlighted J.D.’s qualities as a husband and father, describing their love and connection to fellow Americans.
Usha, who is a mother of three, met J.D. at Yale University. “We were friends first,” she said. Usha, whose parents are from Andhra Pradesh, shared that J.D. was the most interesting person she had ever known—a working-class man who overcame significant childhood traumas to attend Yale Law School, a tough Marine who served in Iraq, yet enjoyed simple pleasures like playing with puppies and watching the movie “Babe.”
When asked to introduce J.D. to the Republican delegates, Usha expressed how she was initially at a loss for words. She decided to speak from the heart about why she loves and admires him, and why he would make a great Vice President.
Usha also talked about her own background, growing up in a middle-class community in San Diego with her immigrant parents from India. She shared how J.D. embraced their differences with curiosity and enthusiasm, wanting to learn everything about her background. Despite being a “meat and potatoes” kind of guy, J.D. adapted to her vegetarian diet and even learned to cook Indian food for her mother. Usha reiterated the contrasts in their upbringings but highlighted how their love transcends these differences.
