US Senator JD Vance Highlights Wife Usha’s Hindu Faith in Personal Evolution
Washington, 16th July 2024: US Senator JD Vance, who has been chosen as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running mate, attributes his personal and spiritual growth to his Hindu wife Usha Chilukuri Vance. In an interview, Vance credited Usha’s Hindu faith for helping him navigate challenges and reconcile his Catholic beliefs.
“I was raised Christian but never underwent baptism,” Vance revealed. “It wasn’t until 2018 that I received my first baptism. Usha, although not raised Christian herself, supported me wholeheartedly when I began to reconnect with my faith,” the 38-year-old senator explained.
The couple met while attending Yale Law School and married in Kentucky in 2014. Their marriage was celebrated with two ceremonies: a traditional one and a separate Hindu ceremony officiated by a Hindu priest, honoring Usha’s cultural heritage. They are parents to three children—Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.
Reflecting on her upbringing in a “religious household,” Usha acknowledged her parents’ Hindu beliefs as shaping her support for Vance’s spiritual journey. “My parents are Hindu, and their values have guided me in supporting JD’s quest for spirituality,” she stated. “I sensed JD was searching for something meaningful, and this path felt right for him,” she added.
When it comes to raising their children amidst their different religious backgrounds, Usha stressed the importance of open communication. “We communicate extensively,” she said, emphasizing shared values and principles that guide their family life.
Usha Chilukuri Vance is a lawyer, according to her LinkedIn profile, graduating from Yale University with a BA in history in 2007. She furthered her studies at the University of Cambridge, earning an MPhil as a Gates Cambridge Scholar in 2009. Her professional background includes roles at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, as well as clerkships at the Supreme Court of the US and the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She also served as a Summer Associate at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.
JD Vance has frequently acknowledged Usha for her support and influence on his career. During an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show in 2020, Vance described his wife as a “strong female voice” who keeps him grounded. “Usha keeps me humble. If I ever get too confident, I remind myself of her accomplishments, which far exceed mine,” he stated.
