By Web Desk
Washington: While the hopes of Kamala Harris, with her Indian roots, becoming the President of the U.S. were dashed in the face of Donald Trump’s political momentum, there is another Indian-origin woman in the U.S. making her community proud. Usha Vance, also known as Usha Chilukuri, is the wife of J.D. Vance, who has been selected as Donald Trump’s running mate for the Vice President position.
J.D. Vance, a former U.S. Senator from Ohio, was chosen by Trump as his Vice Presidential candidate, overcoming other prominent figures such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. During a victory speech in Florida, Trump praised both J.D. Vance and Usha Vance for their contributions to his campaign and their commitment to the cause.
Usha’s roots trace back to Andhra Pradesh, India, though she was born in California. Raised in San Diego as the daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha attended Mount Carmel High School in Rancho Peñasquitos. She met J.D. Vance while studying at Yale Law School in 2013, and they got married in 2014. The wedding ceremony, which was officiated by a Hindu priest, followed shortly after they both completed their law degrees. The couple has three children: Evan, Vivek, and Mirabelle.
Usha Vance holds a BA in History from Yale University and an M.Phil. in History from the University of Cambridge. She served as the Executive Development Editor for the Yale Law Journal and as Managing Editor of the Yale Journal on Law and Technology. Additionally, she has been actively involved in various legal and humanitarian initiatives, including the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic, the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, and the Iraq Refugee Assistance Project.
If J.D. Vance secures the Vice Presidency, Usha Vance’s rise to the position of Second Lady will be a historic moment for Indian Americans, further highlighting the growing influence of the community in U.S. politics.
