Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of J.D. Vance—Donald Trump’s running mate—will be the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States if Trump’s election bid succeeds. Usha’s heritage ties her to Vadluru, a village in Andhra Pradesh, India, while she herself was born and raised in San Diego, California. Villagers in Vadluru are hopeful that her historic role might bring positive developments to their land.

A distinguished attorney and the daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha Vance has excelled academically and professionally. Her husband, J.D. Vance, is now the Republican Vice Presidential candidate.

Trump praised the couple during a recent rally, referring to J.D. Vance as the “Vice President-elect” and acknowledging Usha as his “remarkable and beautiful wife.” J.D., a “feisty” figure in Trump’s words, joined Trump and Melania on stage.

Usha Vance’s Indian Heritage

Roots in Vadluru: Although Usha has not yet visited her ancestral village, her family maintains close ties to Vadluru, where her relatives have supported the local community by donating land for temples. Her father, Chilukuri Radhakrishnan, visited a few years ago to assess these temples' conditions.

Hopes and Prayers: Residents in Vadluru have been offering prayers for J.D. Vance’s success, hoping his election would bring honor to their community and bolster India-U.S. relations.

Usha Vance’s Journey

As a Yale Law School graduate, Usha met her husband during their studies there, and the two married in 2014. They are now parents to three children.

Her family’s immigration story began when her parents left India for the U.S. in 1986. Her great-grandfather originally left Vadluru, while her father grew up in Chennai before moving to America. This journey reflects the broader story of Indian-Americans, now the second-largest Asian community in the U.S., having grown significantly in the past decade.