Poised, cerebral, measured, eloquent are the adjectives that inevitably preface descriptions of Usha Vance especially after she introduced her husband JD (James David) to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee and to most of America. But she has stepped into a harsh spotlight thanks to Vance being selected by Donald Trump to be his running mate in the 2024 Presidential race. So, she is being targeted for her beliefs and emotions, by all sorts of people.
And none more than by Indians, resident and non-resident. While one section of desis like the idea of a possible continuation of an Indian-origin presence in the Vice Presidential office and home, most others consider her a traitor to “the cause” as educated and mostly urban Indian-Americans have traditionally voted Democrat. And, of course, non-Indian origin voters also want to demolish her, probably because they fear she is the Trump campaign’s secret weapon.
Even though Joe Biden finally stepped aside on Sunday and endorsed Kamala Harris, another partly-Indian American to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the 2024 Presidential election, Usha Vance represents a very compelling counter-intuitive choice for the desi community. Usha’s appeal goes beyond her ethnicity: a brilliant Millennial woman who boldly stepped out of her comfort zone to fall in love with a man from a very different background and lift him up.
Although evidence suggests policies of Republican Presidents are more beneficial for the largely well-educated Indian-American professionals, they have always leaned towards the Democratic Party. The elevation of Kamala Harris reinforced that covenant though she has identified more with her Black heritage than Indian. But now Trump is cannily making a direct pitch for the rich, influential, ‘liberal’ Indian-American community with the remarkable story of Usha Vance.
The sheer number of people who have watched Hillbilly Elegy on Netflix in the past week is bound to cause alarm in circles that know the power of Hollywood. The movie and bestselling book by the same name by JD Vance also highlight his wife’s role in shaping his life, helping him find faith, purpose and the warmth of family. That is bound to resonate with US audiences; even Indian viewers have been impressed by his journey from poverty and dysfunction to success.
With the Vance name added to the Trump ticket, Usha’s profile is certain to rise, especially since Melania Trump has remained firmly out of her husband’s election campaign. Usha’s journey from an avowedly ‘liberal’ California background to falling in love with, marrying, and moulding the new poster boy of the Trumpian Republican political movement could potentially tempt more of her cohort—urban, educated, minority women—to make that huge ideological shift.
That Usha made that leap of faith without forsaking her intrinsic identity is a red flag for those who characterise the Republican cohort as largely white, regressive, Bible-brandishing, gun-toting supremacists. Usha’s presence beside JD blurs the stark lines that are sought to be drawn between ‘progressives’ and the rest in US politics. More so as she appeared to be accepted and even celebrated by the red MAGA cap wearing crowds that gathered in Milwaukee last week.
The Indian-American community’s tilt towards the Democratic Party over the decades is understandable as US universities are emphatically ‘liberal’, and thus strongly influenced them during their student days—mostly from the 1960s onwards. Careers in the corporate or technology world did not make many changes to that affiliation. Their USA-born children also grew up under the same influences and their Democrat inclinations further cemented their parents’ allegiance.
They have so far been a reliable votebank for Democrats, with an estimated 80% of them voting for them, more than Asian Americans of Chinese and Vietnamese origin. The Vances’ entry, as well as the rising profile of Vivek Ramaswamy not to mention Nikky Haley in the Republican Party may now cause ripples. If Usha can bravely turn Republican given her solid Democrat background, American-desis of similar lineage may be prompted to do some soul-searching too.
The Vances are a confounding couple for the US electorate, particularly for the Democratic Party spin doctors and analysts who have to fashion a cogent counter narrative. JD effected three name changes, had an inter-faith marriage even as he ‘converted’ to Catholicism, and their middle child has the same first name as one of the other staunch Trumpites in the new-look Republican Party who is also their Yale Law School classmate, Vivek Ramaswamy. Howzat for diversity?
The ‘good immigrant’ image of Usha’s community with many Indian Americans successfully heading major US corporations—and now even the World Bank—without demanding dilution of age-old American cultural or political principles only sharpens the Republican Party’s strong anti-illegal migrant line. Even the placards at the RNC in Milwaukee calling for “mass deportation” (of illegals) during her introduction of her husband cannot be said to target her.
But ‘liberals’ attacking Usha for being even a metaphorical floor-crosser is ironic. It suggests that women do not or should not have the power to choose their path and that they are bound by their gender to adhere to a particular party’s political agenda. It also suggests a liberal veto on successful immigrants—especially non-white ones—from deviating from a designated path. Why should it be presumed that Usha has been railroaded rather than convinced?
JD is clearly immensely proud of his wife, and realises, acknowledges and appreciates her superior intellect as well as her deep belief in him. That will be heartening to a section that both parties are seeking to win over: suburban women, He may still be a mystery to most of the US and the world, but not to Usha. And if what that brainy woman has learnt about him in the past 14 years has been enough for her to change track, others may think it is worth doing so too.
Whether Kamala Harris manages to overcome the usual hurdles of a woman presidential candidate in the US or Usha Vance powers her husband to overcome the usual hurdles that an American “redneck” faces, either way, Indian-Americans will be key to the 2024 US elections. More so as Haley and Ramaswamy will also be stumping for Republicans in all the electoral races. Will these be watershed elections in terms of voting patterns in the desi community there?
The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.