Kamala Harris Biography
Kamala Harris is the 49th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Joe Biden since January 20, 2021. She is the first female vice president, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president in U.S. history.
As a member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021 and as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017.
Kamala Harris Age
Kamala Harris is 59 years old as of 2024.
Kamala Harris Early Life and Education
Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California and she was introduced to a world of activism and public service from a young age. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a Tamil Indian breast cancer scientist, and her father, Donald Harris, was a Jamaican economist who taught at Stanford University.
Growing up, Harris and her younger sister, Maya, were raised in a household that valued education and community involvement. Their mother instilled in them the importance of understanding their Indian heritage, while their father introduced them to the rich traditions of Jamaica. The sisters attended both a Baptist church and a Hindu temple, reflecting the interwoven nature of their cultural identities.
Harris’s formative years were marked by her parents’ divorce and her mother’s decision to move the family to Montreal, Canada. There, Harris attended Westmount High School, navigating the challenges of adolescence in a new country. Despite the difficulties, she thrived academically and socially, developing a resilience and adaptability that would become hallmarks of her character.
For college, Harris returned to the United States to attend Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C. At Howard, she majored in political science and economics, immersing herself in the intellectual and cultural life of the institution. She became an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the nation’s oldest African-American sorority, and participated in protests against apartheid in South Africa.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Harris pursued a law degree at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. During her time at Hastings, she was part of the Legal Education Opportunity Program and served as president of the Black Law Students Association.
Kamala Harris Career
Kamala Harris’s career journey began in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where she served as a deputy district attorney from 1990 to 1998. During this period, Harris developed a reputation for her tough stance on crime, particularly gang violence, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse cases.
In 2003, Harris achieved a significant milestone by being elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco. Her tenure was notable for initiating reforms that aimed to reduce recidivism and improve the criminal justice system. She established a program called “Back on Track” that provided first-time drug offenders with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and find employment.
Harris’s rising profile led her to the statewide stage when she was elected as the Attorney General of California in 2010, and subsequently re-elected in 2014. As the first woman and the first person of color to hold the office, she continued to push for progressive changes. Her accomplishments include creating the Bureau of Children’s Justice, which focuses on addressing issues such as foster care and child abuse, and leading the fight against human trafficking.
In 2016, Harris’s political career took a leap forward when she was elected to the United States Senate, representing California. She was the second African-American woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the Senate. During her time as a senator,
Harris’s tenure in the Senate also saw her taking a strong stand on national issues. She advocated for the federal de-scheduling of cannabis, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the DREAM Act, a ban on assault weapons, and progressive tax reform. Her legal acumen and sharp questioning of Trump administration officials, including Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, further raised her national profile.
The year 2020 marked a historic turn in Harris’s career when she sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Although she withdrew from the race before the primaries, her campaign set the stage for her selection as Joe Biden’s running mate. The Biden-Harris ticket’s victory in the 2020 election against incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence was a momentous event, with Harris becoming the first female vice president, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American to hold the office.
As Vice President, Harris has continued to fight for the people, leveraging her extensive experience from her time as District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California. Her role has involved addressing a wide range of issues, from the COVID-19 pandemic response to immigration challenges at the U.S. southern border.
Kamala Harris Husband and Children
Kamala Harris is married to Douglas Emhoff, who is the first Second Gentleman of the United States. He is also the first Jewish spouse of a vice president. Emhoff is an entertainment lawyer and has been a partner at several law firms. The couple married on August 22, 2014, in a ceremony officiated by Harris’s sister, Maya Harris.
Kamala Harris is the stepmother to Emhoff’s two children from his previous marriage to film producer Kerstin Emhoff. Their names are Cole and Ella Emhoff. Cole was born on September 15, 1994, and is named after the jazz musician John Coltrane. He graduated from Colorado College with a degree in psychology and has worked in the entertainment industry. Ella is known for her work as a fashion designer and artist. The siblings affectionately refer to Kamala Harris as “Momala”.
Kamala Harris Net Worth
Kamala Harris has an estimated net worth of $10 million as of 2024.
Kamala Harris Social Media Handles
- Facebook: Kamala Harris
- Instagram: @KamalaHarris
- Twitter: Vice President Kamala Harris
