Usha Vance took center stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday, shining a spotlight on her husband, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), as he prepared to accept the Republican nomination for vice president. In a heartfelt speech, she introduced Vance as a family man whose rags-to-riches story embodies American exceptionalism.
Vance, who rose from poverty to become a U.S. senator, has often downplayed his wife’s accomplishments, describing her as a grounding influence in their marriage. However, Usha Vance took the opportunity to express her love and admiration for her husband, recounting their meeting at Yale Law School and sharing stories about his softer side.
She described Vance, a self-proclaimed “tough Marine,” as a loving husband and father who has overcome a difficult childhood to provide a stable home for his children. Usha Vance also highlighted their vastly different backgrounds, with her parents immigrating to the U.S. from India and raising her in a middle-class home.
She praised Vance for his intellectual curiosity about her background and his openness to her culture, noting that he even learned to cook Indian food for her mother. Usha Vance’s speech touched on the same themes as her husband’s, emphasizing his commitment to his upbringing and his desire to carry that perspective into his role as vice president.
As Vance approached the microphone to deliver his own address, he couldn’t help but acknowledge his wife’s praise. “First of all, isn’t she lovely? Isn’t she amazing?” he said, beaming with pride.
