Kamala Harris (full name Kamala Devi Harris) was born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California to immigrant parents. She has Afro-Jamaican roots on her father’s side and her mother is of Indian descent. Her father taught economics at Stanford University, and her mother was a biomedical researcher.
In 1982, Harris enrolled at Howard University in Washington, DC. Howard University is one of the historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) founded to provide education to African Americans. She graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science and interned in the office of Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston. While in school, she was a member of an African American sorority and participated in university debates, advocating for civil rights and the end of apartheid in South Africa. From 1986 to 1989, Harris studied law at the University of California, where he led the Black Law Students Association.
professional career
In 1990, Harris became deputy district attorney for Alameda County, California. In 1994, she joined the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later the state Medical Assistance Board. In 1998, she was appointed assistant district attorney in San Francisco, where she led cases involving recidivism, murder, theft, and assault. In 2000, she moved to the San Francisco Mayor’s Office and became director of the Office of Family and Children Services, where she handled homelessness and child abuse cases.
In 2003, Harris was elected San Francisco District Attorney and served from 2004 to 2011. He was elected California Attorney General in 2010, took office in 2011, and served until 2017. She focused on increasing transparency in law enforcement and increasing transparency in law enforcement. Investigating police misconduct.
in parliament
Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 and served on the Judiciary, Intelligence, Appropriations, and Homeland Security committees. She criticized President Donald Trump’s administration (2017-2021) for policies such as the trade deal with China and withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. In 2017, he voted in favor of the Countering America’s Enemies Through Sanctions Act, which strengthened sanctions against Russia.
vice president position
In January 2019, Harris announced her candidacy for president, but withdrew before the primary and endorsed Joe Biden. In November 2020, the Biden-Harris ticket defeated Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Harris resigned from the Senate two days before Inauguration Day and was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2021, making history as the first woman, African American, and Asian American to hold the vice president’s office. left behind.
As vice president, she presided over the Senate and cast tie-breaking votes (she cast tie-breaking votes 33 times, a record). She also attends Cabinet meetings, performs presidential duties, and travels abroad on behalf of the United States. Harris has focused on voting rights and immigration issues along the southern border. In 2021, she traveled to Central American countries to develop joint solutions to reduce migration through Mexico. Under her leadership, special committees on anti-corruption and anti-trafficking were established with these countries. Harris also spoke at the Munich Security Conference and led U.S. delegations to major events such as the 2023 ASEAN Summit and the 2024 Ukraine Conference in Switzerland.
On November 19, 2021, Harris briefly served as acting president while Biden underwent a medical procedure that required anesthesia.
2024 presidential election
During the 2024 campaign, Harris again became Biden’s running mate. However, on July 21, Mr. Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Ms. Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. On August 6, the Democratic National Committee formally nominated Harris for president. In an online vote held from August 1 to 5, Harris received 99% support from convention delegates. She formally accepted the nomination and became the party’s candidate.
Political Views
Harris has ties to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, including champions of feminism, LGBTQ+ rights and populist causes. Analysts believe that if he is elected president, his policies would largely align with those of the Biden administration.
Harris supports stricter gun laws, including an assault weapons ban, law enforcement reform, abolishing the death penalty, raising taxes on big financial institutions and expanding social programs. She advocates for a transition to renewable energy and supports federal legalization of marijuana and leniency for non-violent drug crimes. Harris is also an advocate for abortion rights, despite a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling leaving abortion laws up to individual states.
Harris initially supported Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” proposal. The proposal was aimed at eliminating private insurance in favor of government-funded care. However, she later advocated for people to choose between private and public insurance.
In foreign policy, Harris supports stronger relationships with NATO allies and Asia-Pacific partners. She criticized China for “intimidating” neighboring countries and called for closer ties between the United States and Taiwan. After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, she supported Israel’s military operation in Gaza, but then called for a ceasefire due to civilian casualties. However, she justified Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, saying “Israel has the right to protect itself from terrorist organizations.”
Harris supports continued economic and political pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine. At the 2024 Swiss conference, she said that US aid to Ukraine is not charity but a matter of strategic national interest.
private life
Since 2014, Harris has been married to attorney Douglas Emhoff, the first “second gentleman” in U.S. history. He left his position at the DLA Piper law firm to teach at Georgetown University. Emhoff has two children from a previous marriage. In 2024, Forbes estimated their combined net worth to be $8 million.
Harris is a member of the Baptist church. In April 2022, Russia added her to its permanent sanctions list.
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