From Yale Law to the Vice Presidency: The Enduring Love Story of JD Vance and Usha Chilukuri Vance

JD Vance, the current Vice President of the United States, has a public life extensively documented, from his challenging upbringing chronicled in Hillbilly Elegy to his military service, legal career, and swift ascent in national politics. While his journey has been marked by significant transformations and public scrutiny, his romantic history, as widely reported, centers almost exclusively on one pivotal relationship: his marriage to Usha Chilukuri Vance. Their bond, forged in the competitive halls of Yale Law School, has been a consistent and foundational element of his adult life, publicly portrayed as a partnership that has profoundly shaped his personal and professional trajectory. Prior to his relationship with Usha, there are no significant publicly documented romantic interests or relationships in his life.

A Meeting of Minds at Yale Law School

The story of JD Vance and Usha Chilukuri began in the early 2010s at Yale Law School. Vance, a Marine veteran from a working-class Appalachian background, found himself in an environment vastly different from his upbringing. Usha, the daughter of Indian immigrant professors, was a high-achieving student with a background rooted in academic excellence, having attended Yale for her undergraduate degree and Cambridge for her MPhil. Despite their contrasting upbringings, they were drawn to each other, initially forming a friendship that deepened when they were assigned as writing partners for a major legal brief.

According to Vance's memoir, he was immediately smitten, describing Usha as a "genetic anomaly" possessing intelligence, diligence, beauty, and a direct way of speaking. He confessed his love to her after just one date, a move he admitted "violated every rule of modern dating." Their law school professor, Amy Chua, who encouraged Vance to write Hillbilly Elegy, observed their connection as "love at first sight," noting the "extremely unlikely" pairing of their personalities. Usha became his "Yale spirit guide," helping him navigate the unfamiliar social and academic landscape of the Ivy League institution, from advising on proper dining etiquette to encouraging him to seek opportunities he didn't know existed.

An Interfaith Union and Growing Family

JD Vance and Usha Chilukuri married in 2014 in Kentucky, in an interfaith ceremony that blended their respective Christian and Hindu traditions. While Vance was raised Christian and converted to Catholicism in 2019, Usha is a practicing Hindu. Their wedding included a Bible reading by Vance's friend and a blessing from a Hindu pandit, symbolizing the merging of their diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds. This interfaith union is often cited as a testament to their mutual respect and shared values, particularly regarding family life and raising children.

Their family grew with the arrival of three children: their first son, Ewan, born in 2017; another son, Vivek, born in 2020; and a daughter, Mirabel, born in 2021. The couple has largely kept their children out of the public spotlight, though Vance often speaks about the importance of fatherhood and family in his life, emphasizing his desire to provide his children with the stability he lacked growing up. Usha's role as a mother and her commitment to their family life have been consistently highlighted as central to their partnership.

A Pillar of Support in Public Life

As Vance's public profile grew, particularly with the success of Hillbilly Elegy and his entry into politics, Usha Vance has remained a steadfast source of support and counsel. She appeared in campaign ads during his 2022 Senate race, describing him as "an incredible father" and her "best friend." Her calm demeanor and intellectual prowess have been noted, with many sources suggesting she plays a significant behind-the-scenes advisory role in his political career. Despite her own demanding career as a litigator, which included prestigious clerkships for Judge Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John G. Roberts, she has consistently prioritized their family and his political aspirations.

Their relationship has been characterized by mutual adaptation and resilience. Usha, for instance, mentioned in her Republican National Convention speech that Vance, a self-proclaimed "meat and potatoes guy," adapted to her vegetarian diet and learned to cook Indian food from her mother. This anecdote illustrates their willingness to embrace and integrate each other's worlds. Publicly, Vance has been fiercely protective of his wife, notably defending her against racist attacks targeting her Indian heritage, emphasizing his love and admiration for her.

Upon Vance's nomination as Donald Trump's vice-presidential running mate in July 2024, Usha resigned from her law firm, Munger, Tolles & Olson, to focus on caring for their family, a decision widely reported in the media. Her presence by his side during the campaign and at the 2025 inauguration, where she held the Bible as he was sworn in as Vice President, further underscored her integral role in his life and career. Their journey, from their unlikely meeting at Yale Law to their current roles as Second Lady and Vice President, is often presented as a compelling narrative of enduring love and unwavering support amidst the complexities of public life.