Usha Chilukuri Vance, the Indian-origin wife of the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, J D Vance, shared that “he’s a meat and potatoes kind of guy,” but he adapted to her vegetarian food habits, and even learned to cook Indian food for her mother. 

Speaking on July 17, 2024, on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chilukuri reflected on her culturally different background, as compared to her husband’s. She recounted her childhood in San Diego, being raised by “loving” parents from India. She also talked about meeting her husband at Yale Law School, and falling in love with him. 

“My background is very different from JD’s. I grew up in San Diego, in a middle-class community with two loving parents, both immigrants from India and a wonderful sister. That JD and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry is a testament to this great country. Before I knew it, he had become an integral part of my family.”

She conveyed that when they first met, Vance approached their differences with “curiosity and enthusiasm.” 

Talking about her husband, she said, “JD has shared much of his life through his own eloquent words in his book, Hillbilly Elegy, during his Senate campaign, and now as a sitting United States Senator,” while noting, “It occurred to me that there was only one thing to do. To explain from the heart. Why I love and admire JD and stand here beside him today, and why he will make a great Vice President of the United States.”

About Vance, Chilukuri said she met Vance at the law school right after he graduated from Ohio State. They quickly became friends because he was the “most interesting person” she knew. Despite his challenging childhood, he made it to the Yale Law School, which was incredibly impressive, she said with pride.