Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of JD Vance who is Donald Trump’s running mate in the presidential elections, shared a glimpse into their blended cultural marriage during the Republican National Convention. She spoke about how her “meat and potatoes” husband adapted to her vegetarian lifestyle, even learning to cook Indian dishes from her mother.
This portrayal of her white, Christian husband embracing South Indian cuisine stood out in a party largely dominated by white Christians.Her appearance at the convention resonated with some Indian American conservatives, especially among Hindu Americans, although most Indian Americans lean Democratic.
Despite highlighting her intercultural marriage during her speech in Milwaukee, Usha Vance did not mention her Hindu upbringing or her faith, details that have drawn online criticism. While some believe her presence as a Hindu American is a point of pride, others question whether the Republican Party is truly ready to embrace a Hindu second lady.
According to the Associated Press Usha Vance remained silent about her religious beliefs leading up to the election. She avoided answering questions about whether she practices Hinduism or attends Mass with her Catholic husband, who converted to the faith and is raising their three children as Catholics.
Raised in a Hindu household in San Diego by immigrant parents, both professors, Usha confirmed that one of their children has an Indian name, and their wedding included both Indian and American ceremonies. The couple met while studying at Yale Law School.
Her Hindu background might attract South Asian voters in swing states with significant South Asian populations, like Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina, according to Dheepa Sundaram, a Hindu Studies professor at the University of Denver. However, Sundaram suggests that the campaign seems hesitant to fully embrace Usha Vance’s Hindu identity, viewing it as more of a liability than an asset.
Sundaram notes that Usha Vance could appeal to Hindu Americans who support the politics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whom Hindu nationalism has grown. However, there are significant divisions within Indian American communities on issues such as taxes, education, relations with India, and anti-caste discrimination legislation.
Surveys by Pew Research Center indicate that about 7 in 10 Indian Americans align with or lean toward the Democratic Party, while about 3 in 10 lean Republican. However, surveys by AAPI Data and AP-NORC show that fewer than 1 in 10 South Asian Americans trust the Republican Party on key issues like abortion, gun policy, and climate change, while around half or more trust the Democrats.
Still, Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani, a Republican and Hindu American, believes Usha Vance’s presence as “a second lady who looks like us and speaks like us” could help the GOP attract a voter bloc that has been challenging for the party to reach. Antani emphasizes the importance of Republicans reaching out to minority groups to avoid losing elections.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran for president in 2020 and now supports the Trump-Vance ticket, prominently featured his Hindu faith in his campaign, arguing that Hindu teachings align with Judeo-Christian values. However, Ramaswamy declined to comment on Usha Vance’s religious background.
Usha Vance’s silence on her faith, combined with Ramaswamy’s defeat in the primaries, suggests that non-Christian religious identities may still face challenges within the Republican Party, according to Karthick Ramakrishnan, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. He notes that more exclusionary voices within the GOP have spoken out against the Vances, highlighting the potential political risks of openly embracing a non-Christian religious identity.
Antani, who has successfully won several elections in predominantly Christian, conservative Ohio, argues that the racism in the Republican Party comes from individual racists rather than the party itself. He celebrated Usha Vance’s mention of her Indian heritage at the RNC and believes Ramaswamy’s loss was due to his lack of name recognition rather than his Hindu faith.
JD Vance, who has publicly condemned the online attacks on his wife, speaks about raising their three children as Catholics but rarely mentions his wife’s role in their religious life. He credits Usha with helping him find his Catholic faith after a tumultuous spiritual journey, which included a transition from Protestantism to atheism during college. He and his children were baptized in the Catholic Church in 2019.
Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, sees Usha Vance’s influence on her husband’s spiritual journey as a reflection of Hindu values, emphasizing that Hinduism is about finding one’s own path. She describes Usha as a positive example of Hindu contributions to American society, noting that her interfaith marriage and openness to different perspectives align with Hindu teachings.
Shukla adds that Hindu Americans often assimilate while retaining important aspects of their culture and traditions, which positions them well to engage with diverse communities. She also notes that some Hindu Americans are turning to the Republican Party in response to perceived anti-Hindu prejudice within the Democratic Party, particularly concerning legislation on caste discrimination.
However, Ramakrishnan remains skeptical that Indian Americans feel truly welcome in the Republican Party, even if they agree with conservatives on certain issues. He argues that the rise of Christian conservatism and nationalism within the GOP has driven many Indian Americans to consistently support the Democrats, making it less likely they will align with the Republican Party.
This portrayal of her white, Christian husband embracing South Indian cuisine stood out in a party largely dominated by white Christians.Her appearance at the convention resonated with some Indian American conservatives, especially among Hindu Americans, although most Indian Americans lean Democratic.
Despite highlighting her intercultural marriage during her speech in Milwaukee, Usha Vance did not mention her Hindu upbringing or her faith, details that have drawn online criticism. While some believe her presence as a Hindu American is a point of pride, others question whether the Republican Party is truly ready to embrace a Hindu second lady.
According to the Associated Press Usha Vance remained silent about her religious beliefs leading up to the election. She avoided answering questions about whether she practices Hinduism or attends Mass with her Catholic husband, who converted to the faith and is raising their three children as Catholics.
Raised in a Hindu household in San Diego by immigrant parents, both professors, Usha confirmed that one of their children has an Indian name, and their wedding included both Indian and American ceremonies. The couple met while studying at Yale Law School.
Her Hindu background might attract South Asian voters in swing states with significant South Asian populations, like Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina, according to Dheepa Sundaram, a Hindu Studies professor at the University of Denver. However, Sundaram suggests that the campaign seems hesitant to fully embrace Usha Vance’s Hindu identity, viewing it as more of a liability than an asset.
Sundaram notes that Usha Vance could appeal to Hindu Americans who support the politics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whom Hindu nationalism has grown. However, there are significant divisions within Indian American communities on issues such as taxes, education, relations with India, and anti-caste discrimination legislation.
Surveys by Pew Research Center indicate that about 7 in 10 Indian Americans align with or lean toward the Democratic Party, while about 3 in 10 lean Republican. However, surveys by AAPI Data and AP-NORC show that fewer than 1 in 10 South Asian Americans trust the Republican Party on key issues like abortion, gun policy, and climate change, while around half or more trust the Democrats.
Still, Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani, a Republican and Hindu American, believes Usha Vance’s presence as “a second lady who looks like us and speaks like us” could help the GOP attract a voter bloc that has been challenging for the party to reach. Antani emphasizes the importance of Republicans reaching out to minority groups to avoid losing elections.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran for president in 2020 and now supports the Trump-Vance ticket, prominently featured his Hindu faith in his campaign, arguing that Hindu teachings align with Judeo-Christian values. However, Ramaswamy declined to comment on Usha Vance’s religious background.
Usha Vance’s silence on her faith, combined with Ramaswamy’s defeat in the primaries, suggests that non-Christian religious identities may still face challenges within the Republican Party, according to Karthick Ramakrishnan, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. He notes that more exclusionary voices within the GOP have spoken out against the Vances, highlighting the potential political risks of openly embracing a non-Christian religious identity.
Antani, who has successfully won several elections in predominantly Christian, conservative Ohio, argues that the racism in the Republican Party comes from individual racists rather than the party itself. He celebrated Usha Vance’s mention of her Indian heritage at the RNC and believes Ramaswamy’s loss was due to his lack of name recognition rather than his Hindu faith.
JD Vance, who has publicly condemned the online attacks on his wife, speaks about raising their three children as Catholics but rarely mentions his wife’s role in their religious life. He credits Usha with helping him find his Catholic faith after a tumultuous spiritual journey, which included a transition from Protestantism to atheism during college. He and his children were baptized in the Catholic Church in 2019.
Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation, sees Usha Vance’s influence on her husband’s spiritual journey as a reflection of Hindu values, emphasizing that Hinduism is about finding one’s own path. She describes Usha as a positive example of Hindu contributions to American society, noting that her interfaith marriage and openness to different perspectives align with Hindu teachings.
Shukla adds that Hindu Americans often assimilate while retaining important aspects of their culture and traditions, which positions them well to engage with diverse communities. She also notes that some Hindu Americans are turning to the Republican Party in response to perceived anti-Hindu prejudice within the Democratic Party, particularly concerning legislation on caste discrimination.
However, Ramakrishnan remains skeptical that Indian Americans feel truly welcome in the Republican Party, even if they agree with conservatives on certain issues. He argues that the rise of Christian conservatism and nationalism within the GOP has driven many Indian Americans to consistently support the Democrats, making it less likely they will align with the Republican Party.
