Who is Usha Chilukuri Vance, Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance’s Indian-origin wife

Former President Trump’s running mate Senator J.D. Vance’s wife Usha Chilukuri Vance brings a wealth of credentials and a deep connection to Indian values and culture.

Former President Donald Trump on July 15 chose U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio to be his running mate as he looks to return to the White House.

Mr. Vance, a 39-year-old Republican now in his first term in the Senate was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio. He joined the Marines and served in Iraq, and later earned degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He also worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.

Mr. Vance made a name for himself with his memoir, the 2016 bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was published as Trump was first running for President. The book earned Mr. Vance a reputation as someone who could help explain the maverick New York businessman’s appeal in middle America, especially among the working class, rural white voters who helped Trump win the presidency.

“Hillbilly Elegy” also introduced Mr. Vance to the Trump family. Donald Trump Jr. loved the book and knew of Mr. Vance when he went to launch his political career. The two hit it off and have remained friends.

Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of Mr. Vance brings a wealth of credentials and a deep connection to Indian values and culture.

A litigator at a national firm, Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants and has an impressive academic background. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge, according to the New York Times. Born Usha Chilukuri, she has carved out a career in the legal field, having clerked for Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh before Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Court.

Raised in a suburb of San Diego, California Ms. Usha’s academic achievements include serving as Managing Editor of the Yale Journal of Law & Technology and Executive Development Editor of The Yale Law Journal, according to a biography from Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm.