Introduction of Her Husband as a “Working-Class Guy” Highlights Personal Story
Usha Vance, wife of J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, made her national political debut during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. In her speech, Mrs. Vance described her husband as a resilient “working-class guy” who overcame significant personal challenges, including childhood traumas, to attend Yale Law School.
She spoke warmly of their contrasting backgrounds—her middle-class upbringing in San Diego and his childhood in poverty in Appalachia—highlighting their unlikely love story as an example of the American Dream. Mrs. Vance, 38, emphasized her husband’s character, noting his Marine service in Iraq and his fondness for playing with puppies and watching the movie Babe.
A graduate of Yale and Cambridge, Mrs. Vance is a litigator who worked for prestigious law firms and served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. She recently resigned from her position at Munger, Tolles & Olson to focus on supporting her family during the campaign. The Vances, who have three children, met and married at Yale Law School.
Mrs. Vance’s professional background includes clerking for notable figures such as Supreme Court Justice Roberts and Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Despite her accomplishments, she has faced racist attacks online since her husband’s nomination.
In her personal life, Mrs. Vance has described being raised in a religious Hindu household, and she has supported her husband’s Senate campaign journey, which she found to be an adventurous and new challenge.
At the convention, J.D. Vance referred to his wife as “an incredible lawyer and a better mum,” showcasing their strong partnership in both personal and professional spheres.
