The daughter of middle-class Indian immigrants, a trial lawyer, and until 2014, a registered Democrat: Will Usha Chulikuri Vance be a moderating force on her husband J.D. Vance, the new Republican candidate for vice-president?
Vance can’t be that extreme, after all—look at the diverse and highly educated woman he married. (He wore a bindi and a South Asian outfit for their 2014 wedding ceremony, which was officiated by a Hindu priest; during a speech Usha made Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention, she noted that the “meat and potatoes kind of guy” had adapted to her vegetarian diet and learned to cook Indian food for her mother.)
The couple met while at Yale Law School, where he was mentored by law professor and “Tiger Mom” Amy Chua who encouraged him to prioritize his relationship with Usha; Vance has credited his wife with helping him navigate the elite institution.
