Born James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984, James David Vance is an American politician, author, and former US Marine who has been the junior US senator representing Ohio since 2023. He is a Republican who is the party’s nominee for vice president in the election of 2024.
Biography of J.D. Vance
Full Name: James David Vance (born James Donald Bowman)
Date of Birth: August 2, 1984
Age: 39 years old (as of 2024)
Birthplace: Middletown, Ohio, USA
Early Life and Education
J.D. Vance was born into a working-class family by Beverly Carol (née Vance; born 1961) and Donald Ray Bowman (1959–2023) in Middletown, Ohio, and spent part of his childhood in Jackson, Kentucky.
He is Irish-Scots in origin. When he was a toddler, his parents separated. Not long later, Bob Hamel, his mother’s third husband, adopted Bowman and changed his name to James David Hamel.
Vance’s mother battled drug addiction, and his early years were marked by economic hardship and family instability. James Vance (1929–1997) and Bonnie Vance (née Blanton; 1933–2005), Vance’s maternal grandparents, nurtured him and his sister Lindsey.
Vance attended Middletown High School and, after graduation, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Iraq, which provided him with discipline and structure. After his military service, he attended Ohio State University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in political science and philosophy. Vance then earned a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he studied under the mentorship of Professor Amy Chua.
Family
J.D. Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri Vance, a fellow Yale Law School graduate. The couple has three children named Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. Usha has also worked in law and served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Career
Law and Business: After law school, Vance worked at a corporate law firm and later joined a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, focusing on technology companies.
Author: Vance gained widespread recognition with the publication of his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” in 2016. The book became a bestseller and was later adapted into a Netflix film directed by Ron Howard.
“Hillbilly Elegy”
Publication: 2016
Content: The memoir explores Vance’s upbringing and the broader social, economic, and cultural issues facing white working-class Americans. It received widespread acclaim for its insights into the struggles of the Rust Belt and Appalachian communities.
Impact: The book became a bestseller and sparked national conversations about class and culture in America. It was adapted into a film by Netflix, directed by Ron Howard and released in 2020.
Politics Involvement
Vance entered the political arena and ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Ohio. His political views have evolved over time; initially critical of Donald Trump, he later aligned more closely with Trump’s policies and supporters. Vance advocates for conservative values and emphasizes the importance of addressing the challenges faced by working-class Americans.
In the Republican Party presidential primary of 2024, Vance supported former President Donald Trump on January 31, 2023. In a post on Truth Social on July 15, 2024, at the 2024 Republican National Convention, Trump declared that Vance would be his running mate.
Commentators in the media pointed out that Vance may help the Republican ticket in the Midwest. Vance “brings youth and intellect to the Republican ticket,” according to David A. Graham of The Atlantic. Because of his populist views, Vance “offers Trump a natural successor to his MAGA movement,” according to Catherine Lucey and John McCormick of the Wall Street Journal. As a result, he is thought to be a contender who may boost votes among the devoted supporters of the previous president.
Gender and sexuality
Vance is against same-sex marriage at the federal level, as stated in the Respect for Marriage Act.” I think that marriage is between one man and one woman, but I don’t think that the issue of gay marriage is relevant right now,” he stated. I do not belong to the group of guys that aim to tear apart people’s families.”
Proposing a measure, Vance declared, “Under no circumstances should doctors be allowed to perform these gruesome, irreversible operations on underage children.” It would also prohibit the use of government funds for gender-affirming care for kids and make it a federal crime.
Notable Views and Positions
Cultural Commentary: Vance has spoken extensively about the decline of manufacturing jobs, the opioid crisis, and the breakdown of family structures in working-class communities. He emphasizes the importance of social mobility and the need for economic reforms.
Political Views: While Vance’s early political views were more centrist, he has become a strong advocate for conservative policies, particularly those that he believes will benefit the working class. He has been vocal about the need for both political parties to better address the needs of ordinary Americans.
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