James David Vance, born James Donald Bowman on August 2, 1984, is a multifaceted American figure, serving as the vice president-elect of the United States, a position he will assume alongside the president-elect. Prior to his current role, Vance has had a distinguished career, having served as the junior United States senator from Ohio since 2023, representing the Republican Party.
Vance's professional journey began after high school, when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a military journalist from 2003 to 2007. Following his time in the Marines, Vance pursued higher education, graduating from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He then practiced as a corporate lawyer before transitioning to a career in the tech industry as a venture capitalist.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Vance is also a published author, having released his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, in 2016. The book was later adapted into a film in 2020. Vance's political career took off in 2022, when he won the United States Senate election in Ohio, defeating Democratic nominee Tim Ryan.
Throughout his political tenure, Vance has been associated with conservative and right-wing ideologies, describing himself as a member of the postliberal right. His political stances have been shaped by his Catholic upbringing and include opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, gun control, and American military aid to Ukraine. Vance has also been vocal about his disapproval of childlessness and has been open about the influence of Catholic theology on his sociopolitical views.
In a surprising turn of events, Vance was selected by Donald Trump as his running mate in July 2024, just before the Republican National Convention. Despite previously opposing Trump's candidacy in the 2016 election, Vance became a strong Trump supporter during his presidency.
