How Usha Vance and Kamala Harris' Indian roots fueled a Telugu vs Tamil social media war

As Kamala Harris conceded defeat in the recent US elections, Indian X users found a new debate to latch onto– the ancestry of Harris and Usha Vance, wife of the soon-to-be VP, JD Vance. With Kamala having Tamil roots and Usha Telugu, a playful rivalry has erupted online, as Indians joke about their respective "teams" winning or losing on the US political stage.

Kamala vs. Usha: The social media showdown

Kamala Harris, with her Tamil Brahmin roots, has long held a special place in the hearts of Indian-Americans. But this year, attention turned to Usha Vance, of Telugu Kamma descent, as her husband secured the vice presidency. To some Indian social media users, this election isn’t just red vs. blue – it’s Telugu vs. Tamil.

“Telugu bidda Usha Vance wins against Tamil Kamala Harris. Yet another historic victory for Telugus since 1956!” joked one user.


Another chimed in, “Kamala Harris is a Tamil Brahmin, and Usha Chilukuri is a Telugu Kamma. This feels more like the IIT Madras elections than the US presidential race.”

Who exactly is Usha Vance?

Usha Chilukuri Vance may be American-born, but her roots reach all the way to Vadluru, a small village in Andhra Pradesh. Her family left India decades ago, but they haven’t forgotten home – her father, Chilukuri Radhakrishnan, visited Vadluru three years ago to check on local temples, which the family has supported over the years.

Born and raised in San Diego, Usha studied at Yale and Cambridge before marrying JD Vance in Kentucky in 2014. Now raising three children, Usha still embraces her Hindu faith and Telugu heritage, a connection that has resonated widely with Indians online.

The Tamil-Telugu Social Media Tug-of-War

While Harris’s political chapter may be closing, the lively Tamil-Telugu debate she’s left behind is far from over. Some users are having a field day with playful comments, while others see this as a celebration of India’s rich diaspora, blending humour with pride over seeing two Indian-origin women on the global stage. And as one user put it, “In America, elections might be over, but for us, this race is just heating up!”