Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, is set to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. The 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh. Her family’s village of Vadluru in West Godavari district erupted in celebrations upon the victory of the Trump-Vance Republican ticket.
Villagers offered prayers and lit firecrackers to mark the occasion. Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology Nara Lokesh expressed pride, saying it was a “special moment” for Andhra Pradesh, as an individual of AP-origin rises in American politics.
A Historic Rise for Indian-American Heritage
Usha Vance’s journey to this role highlights her Indian-American heritage and family’s migration story. Her parents, Radhakrishna and Lakshmi Chilukuri, moved to the United States in 1980. Usha, born and raised in San Diego, went on to Yale for her undergraduate studies in history and later attended Cambridge and Yale Law School, where she met JD Vance.
Minister Lokesh noted, “The Second Lady designate has roots in AP. We’re proud that people of AP origin are making global contributions.”
Usha Chilukuri’s Legal Career and Political Influence
As a prominent lawyer, Usha worked in civil cases spanning education, medical, and defense sectors. She clerked for two Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and engaged in causes like the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project. Known for her commitment, she played a pivotal role in her husband’s Senate campaigns and recent Vice-Presidential campaign.
Her support for J.D. Vance’s Senate and Vice-Presidential ambitions underscores her influence in his political career. The couple, married in 2014 with blessings from a Hindu priest, has three children and continues to contribute to both U.S. legal and political spheres.
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