JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, takes the stage at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.
JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, takes the stage at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
A young Vance is seen with his grandmother Bonnie Vance in this undated photo. Vance and his sister Lindsey were raised primarily by his grandparents, James and Bonnie Vance.
A young Vance is seen with his grandmother Bonnie Vance in this undated photo. Vance and his sister Lindsey were raised primarily by his grandparents, James and Bonnie Vance.
From JD Vance
Vance and his grandmother Bonnie, whom he called “Mamaw.”
Vance and his grandmother Bonnie, whom he called “Mamaw.”
From JD Vance
Vance poses for a portrait near the US Capitol in January 2017.
Vance poses for a portrait near the US Capitol in January 2017.
Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Vance appears on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in March 2017.
Vance appears on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in March 2017.
Lloyd Bishop/NBCUniversal/Getty Images
Vance adjusts a fallen sign during a campaign rally in Middletown, Ohio, in July 2021. There, he announced that he would be running for the US Senate seat being left by retiring Sen. Rob Portman.
Vance adjusts a fallen sign during a campaign rally in Middletown, Ohio, in July 2021. There, he announced that he would be running for the US Senate seat being left by retiring Sen. Rob Portman.
Jeffrey Dean/AP
Vance greets supporters during a Trump rally in Delaware, Ohio, in April 2022. A week earlier, Trump announced that he was endorsing Vance in the Republican Senate primary.
Vance greets supporters during a Trump rally in Delaware, Ohio, in April 2022. A week earlier, Trump announced that he was endorsing Vance in the Republican Senate primary.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Vance, second from right, joins US Reps. Matt Gaetz, left, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, center, as they take pictures with supporters at a campaign rally in Newark, Ohio, in April 2022.
Vance, second from right, joins US Reps. Matt Gaetz, left, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, center, as they take pictures with supporters at a campaign rally in Newark, Ohio, in April 2022.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Vance speaks during a Trump rally in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in May 2022.
Vance speaks during a Trump rally in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in May 2022.
Justin Merriman/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Vance, coming off a win in the Republican primary, is trailed by reporters as he boards a US Capitol elevator in May 2022. Vance had been invited to attend the Republican Senate Policy Luncheon.
Vance, coming off a win in the Republican primary, is trailed by reporters as he boards a US Capitol elevator in May 2022. Vance had been invited to attend the Republican Senate Policy Luncheon.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters
Vance puts a pin on an interactive map, marking the watershed near his home during a campaign event at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus in August 2022.
Vance puts a pin on an interactive map, marking the watershed near his home during a campaign event at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus in August 2022.
Gaelen Morse/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Trump watches as Vance speaks at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, in September 2022.
Trump watches as Vance speaks at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, in September 2022.
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Vance holds his son Vivek as he arrives at a get-out-the-vote rally in Batavia, Ohio, in November 2022. Vance and his wife, Usha, have three children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.
Vance holds his son Vivek as he arrives at a get-out-the-vote rally in Batavia, Ohio, in November 2022. Vance and his wife, Usha, have three children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Vance speaks at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio, a day before the midterm election in November 2022.
Vance speaks at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio, a day before the midterm election in November 2022.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Vance votes in Cincinnati in November 2022.
Vance votes in Cincinnati in November 2022.
Gaelen Morse/Reuters
Vance speaks to supporters at an election-night watch party in Columbus, Ohio, in November 2022. His wife, Usha, is on the right. Vance defeated US Rep. Tim Ryan in the race.
Vance speaks to supporters at an election-night watch party in Columbus, Ohio, in November 2022. His wife, Usha, is on the right. Vance defeated US Rep. Tim Ryan in the race.
Andrew Spear/Getty Images
Vance, second from right, poses with other Republican senators-elect as they meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in November 2022. From left are Markwayne Mullin, Ted Budd, McConnell, Katie Britt, Vance and Eric Schmitt.
Vance, second from right, poses with other Republican senators-elect as they meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in November 2022. From left are Markwayne Mullin, Ted Budd, McConnell, Katie Britt, Vance and Eric Schmitt.
Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA/AP
Vance attends a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in February 2023.
Vance attends a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in February 2023.
Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Vance, with Trump behind him, speaks to the media at the East Palestine Fire Department station in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. A train carrying hazardous materials, including the toxic chemical vinyl chloride, had derailed in East Palestine, and <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F02%2F08%2Fus%2Feast-palestine-ohio-train-derailment-fire-wednesday%2Findex.html">the wreckage burned for days</a>.
Vance, with Trump behind him, speaks to the media at the East Palestine Fire Department station in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. A train carrying hazardous materials, including the toxic chemical vinyl chloride, had derailed in East Palestine, and the wreckage burned for days.
Michael Swensen/Getty Images
Vance and fellow Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown arrive for a Senate hearing about the East Palestine train derailment in March 2023. “I think the most important message to the people of East Palestine is that we will not forget about them in the months and years to come, and I think this committee hearing reinforces that message,” <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F03%2F09%2Fpolitics%2Ftakeaways-ohio-train-derailment-senate-hearing%2Findex.html">Vance said in his testimony</a>.
Vance and fellow Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown arrive for a Senate hearing about the East Palestine train derailment in March 2023. “I think the most important message to the people of East Palestine is that we will not forget about them in the months and years to come, and I think this committee hearing reinforces that message,” Vance said in his testimony.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Vance attends the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in February 2024.
Vance attends the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in February 2024.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Vance steps on stage as Trump introduces him during a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, in March 2024.
Vance steps on stage as Trump introduces him during a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, in March 2024.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Vance watches Trump speaks to the media at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York in May 2024. Vance was one of several potential running mates and Republican lawmakers to stand by Trump’s side during his <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F03%2F31%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Ftrump-indictment%2Findex.html">criminal hush money trial</a>.
Vance watches Trump speaks to the media at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York in May 2024. Vance was one of several potential running mates and Republican lawmakers to stand by Trump’s side during his criminal hush money trial.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Vance addresses the conservative Turning Point People’s Convention in Detroit in June 2024.
Vance addresses the conservative Turning Point People’s Convention in Detroit in June 2024.
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images
Vance speaks to the media in Atlanta after the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2024%2F06%2F27%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Fphotos-cnn-debate-biden-trump%2Findex.html">CNN presidential debate</a> between Trump and President Joe Biden in June 2024.
Vance speaks to the media in Atlanta after the CNN presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June 2024.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee as Vance was formally nominated as Trump's running mate in July 2024.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee as Vance was formally nominated as Trump's running mate in July 2024.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
Senator JD Vance, a Republican from Ohio and Republican vice-presidential nominee, left, and Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Democratic vice-presidential nominee, during the first vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.
Vance and Democrat Tim Walz take part in a vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York in October 2024.
Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance waves at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024.
Vance waves on stage during an election night party in West Palm Beach, Florida, in November 2024. Vance thanked Trump for the “trust that you placed in me" and promised that he and Trump would “lead the greatest economic comeback in American history.”
Will Lanzoni/CNN
In pictures: Vice President-elect JD Vance
CNN  — 

Here is a look at the life of JD Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio and vice president-elect.

Personal

Birth date: August 2, 1984

Birth place: Middletown, Ohio

Birth name: James Donald Bowman

Father: Donald Bowman

Mother: Beverly Aikins, nurse

Marriage: Usha (Chilukuri) Vance (2014-present)

Children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel

Education: Ohio State University, B.A., 2009; Yale Law School, J.D., 2013

Military service: US Marine Corps, 2003–2007, Corporal

Religion: Catholic

Other Facts

Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His mother struggled with drug addiction. Was raised mainly by his maternal grandparents.

Has had multiple middle and last name changes: James Donald Bowman, James David Hamel and James David Vance. Initially, his middle and last names changed when his mother remarried. When he married, he and his wife changed their last name to Vance.

Yale law professor Amy Chua convinced Vance to write his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.”

Was a key voice in the “Never Trump” movement during the 2016 presidential election and has publicly criticized former President Donald Trump. Vance liked tweets in 2016 and 2017 that harshly criticized Trump and his policies, and in a review of Vance’s media appearances by CNN’s KFile, has made anti-Trump comments in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Vance deleted past anti-Trump tweets ahead of his announcement in July 2021 that he would run for the open Ohio Senate seat.

Timeline

2014-2015 - Works as a litigator with Sidley Austin.

2016-2017 - Works at Mithril Capital Management.

June 28, 2016 - “Hillbilly Elegy,” which chronicles Vance’s childhood in a poor Rust Belt town in Ohio, is published.

March 27, 2017 - Joins Revolution LLC as a partner.

2019 - Forms Narya Capital.

2020 - “Hillbilly Elegy” is adapted into a Netflix movie.

July 1, 2021 - Announces he will run for the open Ohio Senate seat.

July 5, 2021 - On Fox News, Vance apologizes for criticizing Trump and asks viewers not to judge him on his past statements.

November 8, 2022 - Elected to the US Senate.

July 15, 2024 - Trump names Vance as his running mate.

November 5, 2024 - Trump and Vance defeat Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election.