It has been an eventful month in US politics leading up to the November 5 presidential elections. President Joe Biden faced severe criticism for his performance in the first presidential debate, which many described as abysmal. Additionally, last Saturday, his Republican counterpart Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania. The former president survived the attack with a minor injury to his ear.
As the world anticipates a close contest between the two candidates, there’s a notable India connection in these elections. Four years ago, Kamala Harris made history by becoming the US Vice President. This time, there’s another individual with roots in India: Usha Vance, the wife of JD Vance, who is former President Donald Trump’s running mate.
Kamala Harris traces her roots to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born. Shyamala moved to the US as a teenager to pursue a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, where she met Donald J. Harris. They married in 1963 and had two daughters, Kamala (born 1964) and Maya.
Meanwhile, Usha Chilukuri Vance was born to immigrant parents from Chilakaluripeta, Andhra Pradesh. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in History, earned an M.Phil in Early Modern History from Columbia University, and a JD in Law from Yale Law School. She has worked at prestigious law firms and served as a legal clerk at the US Supreme Court. If Biden wins, Kamala Harris will continue her role as Vice President. However, if Trump and Vance emerge victorious, Usha Vance will become the Second Lady and reside at the Naval Observatory.
Recent polls indicate the popularity of the candidates among US voters. According to YouGov, Kamala Harris is liked by 49 percent of people, while only 28 percent approve of JD Vance. The poll also shows that many Americans are still forming opinions about Vance, who remains relatively unknown in presidential politics.
A year ago, in July 2023, Republican and Indian-origin Hirsh Vardhan Singh announced his bid for the US Presidency in 2024 against Donald Trump, who was facing legal challenges. Singh filed his candidacy, declaring himself a “lifelong Republican” and “America First” conservative. He also referred to himself as the “only pureblood candidate” because he “never gave in to the COVID vaccinations.”
