It appears there’s a new star rising in conservative circles, and her name is Usha Chilukuri Vance. The Yale-educated trial lawyer is now in the limelight, thanks to none other than her husband, J.D. Vance, landing the coveted spot as Donald Trump’s running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
Born and raised in sunny San Diego by her immigrant parents from India—one a biologist and provost and the other an engineer—Usha has quite the academic credentials. Her journey took her from Yale to Cambridge, back to Yale where she crossed paths with J.D. Vance. According to J.D., he was instantly smitten with this powerhouse intellectual during a law class assignment.
Who is Usha Vance? Yale law graduate and wife of VP nominee is thrust into spotlighthttps://t.co/vSXatEnphX pic.twitter.com/R5ctD1Fspl
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 17, 2024
The couple graduated in 2013 and tied the knot the following year, moving right into impressive legal careers. Usha clerked for some of the judicial heavyweights—first for Brett Kavanaugh when he was an appeals court judge, then for Chief Justice John Roberts. Not too shabby for someone who probably never imagined her future husband would be vying for a spot in the White House.
She then joined the esteemed Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm, splitting her time between San Francisco and D.C. But she didn’t hold out long after her husband became Trump’s running mate, promptly leaving her law gig. The firm wished her well, of course, acknowledging her stellar performance while hinting she might have bigger fish to fry.
Interestingly, she wasn’t available for comment; clearly, she’s got a full plate. J.D. has always been open about how big a role Usha plays in his success, even calling her his “skilled and precise” manager in his memoir. It’s no wonder this dynamic duo is making waves. By the way, she’s a registered Republican and voted in the Ohio primary—talk about staying supportive!
Living in Cincinnati with their three children, Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel, Usha has also contributed to her community by serving on the Cincinnati Symphony Board of Directors for nearly three years. With a resume like that, one can only wonder what feats she and her husband will accomplish next as they march toward 2024.