JD Vance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
JD Vance
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 50th Vice President of the United States | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Kamala Harris |
| United States Senator from Ohio |
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| In office January 3, 2023 – January 10, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Rob Portman |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Donald Bowman
August 2, 1984 Middletown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2003–2007 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
| Awards |
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| Writing career | |
| Genre | Memoir |
| Notable works | Hillbilly Elegy |
James David Vance (born James Donald Bowman; August 2, 1984) is an American politician, author, and former Marine. He is the 50th and current vice president of the United States under President Donald Trump. Before becoming Vice President, he was a U.S. Senator for Ohio from 2023 to 2025.
Vance is the first person from the millennial generation to be chosen for a major political party's presidential ticket in the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James David Vance was born on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio. His birth name was James Donald Bowman. His parents divorced when he was very young. He was later adopted by his mother's third husband.
Vance and his sister were mostly raised by their grandparents, James and Bonnie Vance. He called them "Mamaw and Papaw." Later, he changed his last name to Vance to honor them.
School and Military Service
Vance went to Middletown High School in his hometown. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Iraq War as a combat correspondent. This meant he reported on military activities from the front lines.
After his military service, Vance attended Ohio State University. He graduated in 2009 with high honors, earning a degree in political science and philosophy. While at Ohio State, he worked for Republican Ohio State Senator Bob Schuler.
Law School and Writing
Vance then went to Yale Law School. He was an editor for the Yale Law Journal. During his first year, his professor, Amy Chua, encouraged him to write a book about his life. Vance earned his law degree from Yale in 2013.
Career Highlights
After law school, Vance worked at a law firm. He then moved to San Francisco to work in the technology industry. He became a principal at Mithril Capital, a company that invests in new businesses. This company was started by Peter Thiel.
Hillbilly Elegy
In 2016, Vance published his book, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. It became a very popular book and was on The New York Times Best Seller list for two years. The book also won an award for non-fiction.
In 2020, Netflix released a movie based on Hillbilly Elegy. The movie was directed by Ron Howard.
Investment and Media Work
In 2017, Vance joined Revolution LLC, an investment firm. He worked to help grow investments in areas outside of big tech hubs like Silicon Valley. He also became a contributor for CNN in 2017.
In 2019, Vance co-founded Narya Capital in Cincinnati. This company also invests in businesses. He raised a lot of money for this firm. He has also invested in Rumble, an online video platform.
U.S. Senate
Vance became a U.S. Senator for Ohio on January 3, 2023. He was the first U.S. senator from Ohio in a long time to take office without having held a government job before.
Response to Train Derailment
Vance gained attention for his actions after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023. He visited the site and spoke about the disaster. He worked with other senators to propose new laws to prevent similar train accidents in the future.
Senate Committees
As a senator, Vance was part of several important committees. These committees help make decisions about different areas of government. He served on:
- The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- The Senate Special Committee on Aging.
2024 Vice-Presidential Campaign
In January 2023, Vance supported former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential race. On July 15, 2024, Donald Trump announced that he had chosen Vance as his running mate. This means Vance would run alongside Trump for Vice President.
Vance officially accepted this nomination a few days later. Many people, including Donald Trump's sons and well-known figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, supported Vance being chosen.
Vice Presidency (2025–present)
JD Vance was sworn in as the Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2025.
Political Views
Social Issues
Vance believes that marriage is between one man and one woman. However, he has also said that he does not think the issue of gay marriage is a main focus right now.
Immigration
Vance has spoken about illegal immigration. He supports building a wall along the southern border of the United States. He has also suggested spending money to finish this wall.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Vance was one of the senators who voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. This law was about how the government manages its money.
Personal Life
Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri Vance. They met in law school and got married in 2014. They have three children. For much of his career, Vance and his family lived in San Francisco. They were involved in community gardening there.
Images for kids
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Vance speaking in 2017
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See also
In Spanish: J. D. Vance para niños
