James David Vance, born James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio, grew up in a place deeply affected by economic hardship and the decline of manufacturing industries. His family came from Appalachian roots, with his maternal grandparents having moved from eastern Kentucky to Middletown, a small industrial town in southwestern Ohio. Vance was raised mainly by his grandparents, and his early life was shaped by the economic struggles and culture of the Rust Belt.
After graduating from Middletown High School in 2003, Vance joined the United States Marine Corps. He served from 2003 to 2007 as a military journalist with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and was deployed to Iraq in 2005 for six months. His role was non-combat, where he wrote articles and took photographs. Vance earned several honors during his service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
After completing his military service, Vance took advantage of the G.I. Bill to pursue higher education. He enrolled at Ohio State University, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy. Vance then went on to Yale Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 2013. During his time at Yale, he earned a place on The Yale Law Journal and began working on his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, encouraged by his professor, Amy Chua. At Yale, he also developed a relationship with Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist who would later play a major role in Vance’s career.
After graduating from law school, Vance worked as a law clerk for Judge David Bunning in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He then joined Sidley Austin LLP, a prestigious law firm, and began his brief career in corporate law. Soon, Vance shifted gears and entered the venture capital industry, moving to San Francisco to work for various investment firms.
In 2016, Vance published Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, a reflection on his life in the Rust Belt, particularly in Ohio and Kentucky. The book resonated with many readers and became a bestseller, especially as it was released during the 2016 election season. It offered insight into the struggles of working-class Americans and explored the factors that led to their support for Donald Trump. Hillbilly Elegy was later adapted into a film directed by Ron Howard, with Amy Adams and Glenn Close starring in the film. The success of the memoir propelled Vance into the public spotlight, making him a sought-after political commentator and writer.
Although Vance initially criticized Donald Trump during the 2016 election, his views shifted, and he became a strong supporter of Trump’s presidency. In 2017, Vance co-founded Rockbridge Network, a conservative political advocacy group, and in 2019, he co-founded Narya Capital, a venture capital firm based in Cincinnati, supported by Peter Thiel and other Silicon Valley investors.
In 2021, Vance announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat in Ohio, which was being vacated by Senator Rob Portman. Vance’s Senate campaign was heavily supported by Trump and several influential conservative figures. He won the Republican primary in May 2022 and, in the general election in November 2022, defeated Democratic nominee Tim Ryan with 53% of the vote, securing a seat in the U.S. Senate. Vance served as Ohio’s U.S. Senator from January 2023 to January 2025. During his time in the Senate, Vance focused on issues such as border security, revitalising American manufacturing, and opposing U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
Vance sponsored several bills during his Senate tenure, including the Dismantle DEI Act, which aimed to end federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. He also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation related to railroad safety and was a vocal critic of government spending, particularly related to military aid. His political stances were in line with the broader Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
In July 2024, Donald Trump announced that he had selected Vance as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. Despite some public criticism of Vance’s earlier comments, especially on social issues, the Trump-Vance ticket won the election, narrowly defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. On January 20, 2025, Vance became the 50th Vice President of the United States, making history as the first Millennial to hold the office and the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history. He was also the first Marine Corps veteran to serve as vice president.
In his role as vice president, Vance was appointed as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee, playing a key role in shaping the party’s strategy. His early acts as vice president included swearing in Secretary of State Marco Rubio and casting the tie-breaking vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Vance also made a historic visit to Greenland in March 2025, reaffirming the U.S.'s interest in acquiring the territory and criticizing Denmark for its handling of Greenland’s security.
In February 2025, Vance delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he argued that the greatest threat to U.S. security was internal rather than external, focusing on the growing ideological divide between the U.S. and its European allies.
Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri, whom he met while they were both studying at Yale Law School. The couple married in 2014 and have three children: Ewan, Vivek, and Maribel Vance. Vance and his family reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, and own more than 100 acres of land in Kentucky.
Raised in a conservative evangelical Christian environment, Vance later converted to Catholicism in 2019. He explained that his conversion was influenced by his intellectual engagement with Catholic theology, particularly the teachings of Augustine of Hippo, and how these teachings aligned with his political views. Vance’s conversion was met with media attention, especially given his strong stance on social and political issues.
Throughout his career, Vance has consistently advocated for the working-class Americans, particularly those in the Rust Belt and rural regions. His memoir Hillbilly Elegy continues to be an influential work that sheds light on the struggles of working-class Americans. In both the Senate and as Vice President, Vance’s political stances have aligned with traditional conservative values, focusing on nationalism, family values, and challenging the political establishment.
Vance has become a key figure in the national conservative movement, with his strong opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control. His policies continue to shape the direction of the Republican Party, and as Vice President, he plays a critical role in determining the future of American politics.
