Early life
Vance grew up in Rust Belt poverty amid family chaos—parents divorced young, mom’s addiction issues, raised by grandparents. Born James Bowman, he changed names twice: to Hamel (~1990s, then Vance (2014.

Newsom came from SF elite circles (Getty/Pelosi ties), parents divorced early, raised by mom despite dyslexia; far more privileged start.

Education:Vance served in Marines (2003-07, Iraq deployment) before Ohio State (BA ’09) and Yale Law (JD ’13).

Newsom attended Santa Clara U (BS Pol Sci ’89, baseball scholarship, study abroad).

Early Careers:Vance clerked/lawyered briefly, then entered VC world (2016-19), authoring “Hillbilly Elegy” (2016) which critiqued white working-class culture.

Newsom built a business empire starting with PlumpJack winery (1991), expanding to 23 ventures with investor backing.

Political Entry
Vance initially liberal, promoting views in outlets like CNN (contributor ~2017-18) and NYT op-eds; fiercely anti-Trump in 2016 (called him “cultural heroin” or “Hitler-like”), book hailed by libs. Pivoted to MAGA by 2020 after mentoring and funding from Peter Thiel.

Newsom promoted up political jobs. SF parking comm (1996), supervisor (1997-2004, mayor (2004-11).

Later Roles:Vance: OH Senator (2023-25), US VP (2025-).

Newsom: CA Lt Gov (2011-19), Gov (2019-, survived 2021 recall, reelected ’22).