Kamala Harris | Biography, Policies, Family, & Facts

Kamala Harris is the 49th vice president of the United States, serving under President Joe Biden since 2021. She is the first woman, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to hold the office. Born in Oakland, California, on October 20, 1964, Harris is the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.

Harris attended Howard University and earned a law degree from the University of California, Hastings. She began her career as a prosecutor in Alameda County and later served as district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general of California. In 2016, she was elected to the U.S. Senate, where she served on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees.

As a senator, Harris advocated for criminal justice reform, healthcare expansion, and immigration policy changes. She co-sponsored the Justice in Policing Act and supported the Green New Deal. Her presidential campaign in 2019 focused on economic equality, climate change, and racial justice, though she withdrew before the primaries.

Harris is married to Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer, and is stepmother to his two children, Cole and Ella. Her family background and career have made her a prominent figure in American politics, often highlighting her mixed-race heritage and her work as a prosecutor and senator.

Key facts about Harris include her role in the Biden administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, her work on voting rights legislation, and her diplomatic engagements abroad. She has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and has addressed issues such as maternal mortality and pay equity.