Kamala D. Harris was the Vice President of the United States, elected after a distinguished career in public service. She previously served as the District Attorney of San Francisco, California’s Attorney General, and a Senator.
Born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents from India and Jamaica, Vice President Harris was inspired by her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a pioneering breast cancer scientist. Gopalan instilled a strong sense of justice in her daughters, encouraging them to embrace leadership. Harris recalls her mother saying, “Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.”
Raised in a diverse community, Harris was exposed to activism early on. Her parents introduced her to civil rights leaders like Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley, sparking her desire to pursue a career in law. In 2014, she married Doug Emhoff, and they share a blended family that includes their children, Ella and Cole.
Commitment to Justice and Innovation
In 1990, Harris began her career at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, specializing in prosecuting child sexual assault cases. She later held leadership roles in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, where she focused on protecting children and families.
Elected District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003, Harris implemented a groundbreaking program offering first-time drug offenders a path to earning a high school diploma and securing employment. The program gained national recognition as a model for law enforcement reform. As California’s Attorney General, she led the country's most extensive state justice department, establishing the Bureau of Children’s Justice and implementing reforms that promoted transparency and accountability in the criminal justice system.
Harris’s tenure as Attorney General was marked by notable achievements, including securing a $20 billion settlement for Californians affected by foreclosures and a $1.1 billion settlement for students and veterans exploited by a for-profit education company. She defended the Affordable Care Act, championed environmental protections, and was a national advocate for marriage equality.
Serving in the United States Senate
In 2017, Harris was sworn into the United States Senate, where she immediately became a strong voice for immigrants, refugees, and vulnerable communities. As a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, she fought for stronger protections for DREAMers and called for improved conditions in immigrant detention facilities.
Serving on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, she worked with bipartisan partners to safeguard national security and American elections. She also visited Iraq, Jordan, and Afghanistan to engage with U.S. servicemembers and assess security conditions. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Harris played an active role in the confirmation hearings of two Supreme Court nominees.
Throughout her time in the Senate, Harris sponsored legislation addressing critical issues, including reforming cash bail, combating hunger, improving maternal health, and tackling climate change. Her bipartisan anti-lynching bill passed the Senate in 2018, and her efforts to preserve Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were signed into law. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pushed for increased capital to support low-income communities.
Making History as Vice President
On August 11, 2020, Kamala Harris accepted Joe Biden’s invitation to join the Democratic ticket as his running mate. She made history as the first woman, Black American, and South Asian American to be elected Vice President. Just as her mother encouraged her, she inspires others, determined to ensure she will not be the last. At every step of her career, Kamala Harris has been guided by her words when she first stood in court: “Kamala Harris, for the people.”
Mary Watson
